Maddon believes Trout, Ohtani need more help

Former Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that stars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani don't have enough support around them.

"These guys can't do it alone, obviously," Maddon told the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin on Friday. "It's the non-sexy stuff that has to get better. It's not just bright, shiny objects - they have that."

The Angels fired Maddon in June amid a 12-game losing streak. The team has continued to struggle under interim manager Phil Nevin, posting a 25-38 record.

Maddon said the club's downward spiral doesn't give him any sense of satisfaction.

"It doesn't make me feel better, it doesn't make me feel worse," Maddon said. "Organizationally, I'm kind of numb to the whole thing. Because when you wish them badly, I'm wishing really good friends badly, and I can't do that."

The 68-year-old acknowledged that he's open to managing again, but it would have to be with the right franchise.

"I would only go into that marriage really feeling good about that I'm philosophically aligned with whomever I'm going to work with," Maddon said. "Meaning, it has to be a balance, it just can't be lopsided analytically. Baseball operation has to be one that understands both sides and understands it well."

Maddon owns a lifetime 1,382-1,216 managerial record. He's also made stops with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, helping the latter club snap their 108-year World Series drought in 2016.