Rangers Notes: Banister Named A.L. Manager of the Year

The Rangers’ Jeff Banister helped engineer a 21-game turnaround over last year and led Texas back into the playoffs.

Following an unexpectedly successful first season at the helm, Jeff Banister was named the American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday by the BBWAA.

Banister had been one of three finalists for the award, along with Houston’s A.J. Hinch and Minnesota’s Paul Molitor.

“All the things that I’ve been through in my lifetime – and there were a lot of times that I asked why – well there were times this year that I knew exactly why,” Banister said.

“It was so that I could give another group of people some thoughts, some ideas, some toughness and some motivation to continue to press forward.”

The 51-year-old Banister spent his entire big-league career within the Pirates’ organization before he was brought to Texas last winter, inheriting a last-place ballclub that had plenty of questions marks and little hope for the immediate future.

Expectations were dimmed even further in spring training when it was announced that No. 1 starter Yu Darvish would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season.

But Banister maintained a steely resolve and kept his team focused, even after a poor start that saw the Rangers lose 16 of their first 24 games and fall nearly 10 games out of first place.

Texas slowly climbed back into contention over the summer and captured the A.L. West title on the final day of the season, an accomplishment few (if any) could have envisioned after the disheartening 2014 campaign.

“To be able to have this in year one – tremendous,” Banister said.

“But it means that we had a group of players that went out every single day, they showed up, they played well, they beat back some odds, they were resilient, they showed some grit and played together and really, truly played for each other on a nightly basis, and I was most proud of that.”

Banister is the third Texas skipper to win the A.L. Manager of the Year award following Johnny Oates (1996) and Buck Showalter (2004).

Rangers Send Martin to Seattle

Outfielder Leonys Martin was traded to the Mariners on Monday as part of a five-player deal that brought right-handed reliever Tom Wilhelmsen to Texas.

The Rangers also sent right-hander Anthony Bass to Seattle in the trade while the Mariners included outfielder James Jones and a player to be named later as part of the return package.

Martin reportedly fell out of favor with the organization last month when he failed to report to the Arizona Instructional League as the team had requested.

The 27-year-old Cuban was the Rangers’ Opening Day center fielder each of the last three seasons, but he was stripped of his starting job in 2015 due to injuries and the emergence of Delino DeShields.

Wilhelmsen, 31, is expected to strengthen the back end of a Texas bullpen that already includes Jake Diekman, Sam Dyson, Keone Kela and Shawn Tolleson.

Brocail, Iapoce Join Banister’s Staff

Former Rangers reliever Doug Brocail was named the new Texas pitching coach earlier this month while newcomer Anthony Iapoce was brought over from the Cubs to serve as the team’s hitting coach.

In addition, Justin Mashore was announced as the new assistant hitting coach and Brad Holman as bullpen coach.

“Each one of these coaches has a specific skillset and area of expertise, but they are also well-versed in the game of baseball,” Jeff Banister said.

“With a 25-man roster, as well as having a turnover of players, you need not only specific position coaches but coaches who can reach across and help each other, and have the ability to give our players the best chance of succeeding in their development.”

Fielder Completes Comeback Crown

Having already collected a comeback award from The Sporting News, first baseman/designated hitter Prince Fielder was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year on Nov. 5 by Major League Baseball.

Four days later, he picked up A.L. Comeback Player of the Year honors from the MLB Players Association.

After undergoing season-ending neck surgery in May 2014, Fielder rebounded this year to play in 158 games and lead the team in hits (187), runs batted in (98) and OPS (.841).

Rangers Notes: ‘Stros Slaughter Texas at Minute Maid

Manager Jeff Banister goes to the mound to make a pitching change during the Rangers’ 10-0 defeat to the Astros Sunday in Houston.

Following a 7-6 victory Saturday that featured a benches-clearing scuffle and seemed to ignite a fire under the team, Texas received a harsh dose of solid pitching by All-Star starter Dallas Keuchel in a 10-0 loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Keuchel set a new career high with 13 strikeouts over seven innings of work and improved his season record to 12-4. While Houston stranded 10 runners on base in the ballgame, it was also able to push 10 across the plate against Yovani Gallardo and Anthony Ranaudo.

Third baseman Luis Valbuena drove in four runs for the Astros, and outfielders Colby Rasmus and Preston Tucker each added a two-run homer in the blowout.

On Saturday, Texas rode a quality start from Colby Lewis to a 7-6 win at Minute Maid Park, although the bullpen left much to be desired in allowing four runs over the final two innings.

Rougned Odor provided Lewis with an early advantage­­­ when he connected for a two-run homer off former Ranger Scott Feldman in the top of the third.

The Texas lead would grow to 5-1 before Houston scored three runs in the eighth, the first of which came home on an RBI double into left-center field by Jose Altuve. Marwin Gonzalez appeared to be tagged out by catcher Robinson Chirinos on a close play at the plate, but Tony Randazzo’s safe call was upheld after the Rangers issued a challenge.

In the top of the ninth, Astros catcher Hank Conger took exception to the amount of time Rougned Odor was taking to get into the batter’s box for his plate appearance, and words were exchanged between the two before both benches emptied.

Texas manager Jeff Banister was visibly upset with Houston skipper A.J. Hinch during the mild quarrel, and he said after the game that “our guys are not going to be pushed around.”

Conger would hit a two-run shot off Shawn Tolleson with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but Tolleson was able to retire the next three batters to nail down the 7-6 win for Texas.

Prior to last week’s All-Star Game at Great American Ballpark, the Rangers had dropped four out of five games against N.L. West division opponents Arizona and San Diego.

In the midsummer classic, designated hitter Prince Fielder went 1-for-1 with an RBI single and a run-scoring sacrifice fly as part of the American League’s 6-3 victory over the National League.

Feliz Signed by Tigers; Detwiler to Braves

Former closer Neftali Feliz cleared waivers and was granted free agency after being designated for assignment earlier this month, and he was picked up by Detroit to join its depleted bullpen on Jul. 11.

Left-hander Ross Detwiler, meanwhile, was DFA’d and released by Texas before signing a deal with the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Detwiler began the season as a starter but was moved to the bullpen after going 0-5 with a 6.95 ERA over his first seven starts.

His spot on the active roster was taken by right-handed reliever Roman Mendez, who was then sent back to Triple-A Round Rock when lefty Martin Perez was activated from the 60-day disabled list.

Catcher Carlos Corporan was placed on the 15-day DL Friday (retroactive to Jul. 13) with a sprained left thumb, an injury he had been dealing with for weeks but aggravated while taking batting practice against Matt Harrison.

Twenty-four-year-old Tomas Telis was recalled from Round Rock to take Corporan’s spot on the active roster.

Rangers Could Pursue Hamels

Left-handed starter Cole Hamels is one of the top names expected to be moved before the Jul. 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and Texas – despite its lackluster showing in the standings – is among the teams considered a potential suitor.

While Hamels, 31, would instantly bolster the top of the rotation, he will also command a steep asking price as far as a return package. Infielder Joey Gallo is considered to be off-limits, but catcher Jorge Alfaro or outfielder Nomar Mazara could be included as part of a deal with Philadelphia.

If Texas ends up as a seller instead of a buyer at the deadline, starting pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Colby Lewis and Wandy Rodriguez would all be viable options to get traded.