Rangers Notes: Banister Named New Texas Skipper

Jeff Banister has spent the past 29 years with the Pirates as a player, minor-league manager and big-league coach.

The Rangers introduced Jeff Banister as the 18th full-time manager in club history on Friday, bringing a fresh face to the organization in the wake of Ron Washington’s resignation early last month.

Banister takes over for interim skipper Tim Bogar, who led Texas to a 14-8 record to finish the season and was thought to be the favorite for the managerial vacancy. Bogar and Banister were two of the final three candidates along with Cleveland bullpen coach Kevin Cash.

“Tim did not do anything to lose this job,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “Jeff won this. We had great candidates and had seven difficult conversations with guys who didn’t get the job and one great one [with Banister].”

The 50-year-old Banister was born in Oklahoma but raised in the South Texas town of La Marque. He developed bone cancer in his leg while a student at La Marque High School, then survived a home-plate collision (along with three crushed vertebrae) as a catcher at Baytown Junior College.

After being drafted by Pittsburgh in 1986, Banister made it to the majors for one career at-bat in 1991, appearing as a pinch-hitter for Doug Drabek against Atlanta’s Dan Petry and beating out an infield single in his lone big-league game.

Following his playing career, he held various posts within the Pirates’ organization including minor-league manager and major-league bench coach, a title he held for the last four seasons under former Texas coach Clint Hurdle.

In total, Banister spent 29 years with Pittsburgh, but he is now ready to move into a new role with a new ballclub.

“I’ve never chased a job in my life,” Banister said Friday at an introductory press conference. “I think the best opportunities to come along are the ones you’re not looking for. Have I prepared myself for this opportunity? Yeah, from the day that I stopped playing, until now.”

He inherits a team that fell well short of expectations in 2014 and finished last in the A.L. West for the first time since ’07, although Banister sees it as a chance to build upon a foundation that already has several pieces in place to contend.

“These men know how to win, they know what it takes to win,” he said. “I am assuming [this past season] was an unfortunate situation, there were some guys that were hurt. Some things were out of their control.

“But the beauty of what happened last year [is that] in my eyes there was also a group of young men that had an opportunity to gain some valuable experience going forward.”

Coaching Staff Won’t Include Pettis

On the same day Jeff Banister was announced as the Rangers’ new manager, it was revealed that his coaching staff will not include Texas mainstay Gary Pettis, who is leaving the club to become third-base coach for the Houston Astros.

Pettis, 56, had been a member of Ron Washington’s staff since 2007, serving as the first-base coach for six seasons before moving to third base two years ago.

A former Gold Glove-winning outfielder, Pettis spent the 1990 and ’91 campaigns in a Rangers uniform, seeing action in 273 games and racking up 67 stolen bases over two seasons.

(UPDATE: It was announced Monday evening that Tim Bogar will not return to the Texas coaching staff, either. Bogar began the year as bench coach before taking over as interim manager in September.)

Rangers Decline Option on Rios

Outfielder Alex Rios is set to become a free agent after Texas declined to pick up his $14 million option for next season, instead choosing to pay Rios $1 million as part of a buyout.

Rios, 33, was – like most of the Rangers’ roster – hampered by injuries last year, dealing with both thumb and ankle ailments while hitting only four home runs across 131 games, his lowest power output since he was a rookie in 2004.

With Rios likely to depart, Texas could move Shin-Soo Choo to right field and choose his replacement in left from a group of internal candidates that includes Jim Adduci, Michael Choice, Dan Robertson, Ryan Rua and Jake Smolinski.

Rangers Notes: Young to Join Texas Front Office

Seven-time All-Star Michael Young is the Rangers’ career leader in hits, games played and runs scored.

Former infielder Michael Young retired in a Texas Rangers uniform before the season began, and he is now set to join the club’s front office as a special assistant to the general manager.

Young had been considered a candidate (though not a front-runner) for the Texas managerial vacancy, but he was not brought in for a formal interview while discussions instead turned to an executive role within the organization.

The 37-year-old Young played 13 seasons with the Rangers before he was traded to Philadelphia in December 2012, a move that followed some publicized differences between himself and general manager Jon Daniels.

Having already shifted from shortstop to third in 2009 (to accommodate Elvis Andrus), Young was not pleased when the club signed veteran third baseman Adrian Beltre in January 2011 and then dealt for catcher/designated hitter Mike Napoli later that month.

Although he requested to be traded at the time, Young eventually remained with the Rangers and helped lead them to a second consecutive American League pennant that year.

While in a Texas uniform, Young climbed to the top of the franchise leaderboard in several offensive categories, including at-bats (7,399), hits (2,230), doubles (415), triples (55) and runs scored (1,085).

After splitting the 2013 campaign between the Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, Young signed a one-day contract to retire as a Ranger in late January and was honored in a pregame ceremony in mid-May.

As for the managerial search itself, the team is soon expected to narrow its list of candidates from a group that includes interim skipper Tim Bogar as well as Jeff Banister, Steve Buechele, Kevin Cash, Alex Cora, Torey Lovullo, Mike Maddux and Joe McEwing.

Arencibia, Kouzmanoff Optioned; Ortiz Claimed

The Rangers announced a series of roster moves last Monday, Oct. 6, beginning with the outright assignment of six players to Triple-A Round Rock.

Catcher/first baseman J.P. Arencibia and corner infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff headlined a group that also included outfielder Engel Beltre, infielder Guilder Rodriguez and pitchers Pedro Figueroa and Wilmer Font.

Arencibia was signed as a free agent last December to provide catching depth behind Geovany Soto and Robinson Chirinos, but he wound up seeing action in 63 games for Texas after Soto went down with a knee injury in spring training.

Kouzmanoff, meanwhile, performed well during his brief time in a Rangers uniform, batting .362 (17-for-47) with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBIs across 13 games while Adrian Beltre was on the disabled list in April.

In another roster move announced Monday, Texas lost left-handed reliever Joe Ortiz to the Chicago Cubs on a waiver claim. Ortiz, 24, made his major-league debut in 2013 with 32 appearances out of the Rangers’ bullpen.

Righty Figaro Picked Up from Milwaukee

Right-handed pitcher Alfredo Figaro was claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Oct. 2 and placed on the active roster for Texas.

Across parts of four major-league seasons with Milwaukee and Detroit, the 30-year-old Figaro has made 52 appearances (including nine starts) and posted a record of 5-8 with a 5.04 earned run average.

He spent much of last season with Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers’ system, going 5-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 55 strikeouts against 22 walks.

Wilmer Font was designated for assignment in order to make room for Figaro on the Rangers’ active roster.

Rangers Notes: Injury Bug Bites as Season Approaches

After breaking through with 13 wins and a 3.73 ERA last year, Tommy Hunter won’t be ready this season until at least mid-May.

As the Rangers’ final week of spring training winds down in Arizona, three key members of the pitching staff have had to be removed from exhibition games due to injury.

The first and, ultimately, most serious blow came on Thursday, when right-hander Tommy Hunter was hit hard for five earned runs against Cincinnati before being pulled in the third inning with a strained right groin muscle.

Hunter – who had just been assured of a spot in Ron Washington’s starting rotation – will begin the season on the disabled list for the third year in a row, and he is expected to miss at least six weeks.

As for who will take Hunter’s turn in the rotation next Monday against Seattle, the likeliest candidates seem to be right-handers Dave Bush and Alexi Ogando. Bush was told on Sunday that he had made the team’s 25-man Opening Day roster as a long reliever, and Ogando will be stretched out in an exhibition start Tuesday versus Coastal Carolina University.

Left-hander C.J. Wilson, meanwhile, lasted just two innings Saturday against the Cubs before he was taken out with tightness in his left hamstring, though he continued to throw in the bullpen and is still on track to start the season opener Friday in Arlington.

And veteran left-hander Arthur Rhodes, who had struggled over his last three outings, left Friday’s game against the Rockies with tendinitis in his left wrist. Rhodes received a cortisone injection later that night and is expected to pitch in a minor league game on Monday.

Along with the announcement of his starting rotation – which will also include lefties Matt Harrison and Derek Holland behind Wilson and Colby Lewis – Washington said that right-hander Neftali Feliz will return to the bullpen as the team’s closer, where he set a rookie record with 40 saves last season.

Treanor Traded to Royals

The ripple effect from Hunter’s injury reached the Rangers’ catching corps on Monday, as backstop Matt Treanor was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations.

With Hunter starting the season on the disabled list and Ogando a legitimate option to fill his spot in the rotation, Texas plans to carry an eight-man bullpen with just three bench players instead of four.

Treanor was slated to be the backup to starting catcher Yorvit Torrealba, but with designated hitter/first baseman Mike Napoli also able to fill in behind the plate, Treanor’s spot on the 25-man roster became expendable.

Acquired last March from the Milwaukee Brewers, Treanor set career highs in 2010 with 82 games, five home runs, 22 runs scored and 27 RBIs, getting the bulk of his playing time before Texas traded for Bengie Molina in July.

Kirkman, Others Sent to Round Rock

The Rangers continued to trim their active roster as the regular season approaches, sending six players to Triple-A Round Rock over the last week.

Left-handers Michael Kirkman and Zach Jackson were both assigned to Round Rock Thursday to start the season in the Express’ rotation, though Kirkman remains an outside candidate to fill in for Hunter on the big-league staff.

On Friday, the Rangers reassigned catcher Kevin Cash, infielder Esteban German and outfielders Doug Deeds and Endy Chavez to Triple-A.

Rangers Notes: Four Added to 40-Man Roster

Splitting the 2010 season between High-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco, Engel Beltre hit .300 with 18 stolen bases and 49 RBIs.

The Rangers added four minor-league players to their 40-man roster Friday in order to protect them from being taken in the upcoming Rule 5 draft – outfielder Engel Beltre, left-hander Miguel De Los Santos and right-handers Fabio Castillo and Wilmer Font.

Beltre, who was acquired from Boston in 2007 as part of the Eric Gagne trade, split time between Bakersfield and Frisco this year, compiling a .300 batting average with 15 doubles, eight triples, 18 stolen bases and 49 runs batted in.

De Los Santos also spent time with two affiliate teams this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.94 earned run average and an impressive 112 strikeouts for Spokane and Hickory. In 36 relief appearances for Bakersfield this year, Castillo went 1-3 with an ERA of 1.92 and 65 strikeouts while earning six saves.

As for Font, he started 16 games for Hickory and Bakersfield in 2010 before being shut down with an elbow injury, and last month he underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. The 20-year-old Font will likely miss the entire 2011 season, which means he can be placed on the 60-day disabled list and not count against the active roster.

Former Top Pick Signed by Texas

Also Friday, the team announced that it had signed free-agent right-hander Barret Loux, who was selected as the No. 1 pick by Arizona (sixth overall) in this year’s draft. After Loux failed a physical due to shoulder and elbow issues, however, he and the Diamondbacks could not reach a contract agreement.

As a junior at Texas A&M University last season, Loux put together a record of 11-2 with a 2.83 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .202 batting average. He also ranked seventh in the NCAA with 136 strikeouts and was recognized as a First-Team All-Big 12.

Team Signs Three to Minor-League Deals

The Rangers officially announced the signings of infielder Esteban German, outfielder Doug Deeds and catcher Kevin Cash to minor-league contracts on Friday, and each will receive an invitation to spring training.

German spent the entire 2010 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City before being called up by the Rangers in September. He was on the roster for the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay but did not appear in a game, and he was outrighted off the 40-man roster earlier this month.

Deeds is with his fifth organization after spending last year at Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks’ system, where he hit .302 with 12 home runs, 39 doubles and 55 RBIs. Cash, who appeared in 49 big-league games last season with the Astros and Red Sox, is now with his sixth different team.

Rangers Notes: Francoeur Elects Free Agency

Jeff Francoeur hit .340 with the Rangers this season, including two home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Less than three months after he was acquired in a late-season trade with the New York Mets, outfielder Jeff Francoeur cleared waivers on Wednesday and declined an outright assignment to the minor leagues, thus making him a free agent. In 15 games with Texas during the regular season, Francoeur batted .340 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in, though his production dropped off considerably in the playoffs and World Series.

It was announced Thursday that designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero and outfielder Josh Hamilton were named Silver Slugger award winners for their respective positions this year, and the Rangers are the only American League team to have multiple recipients. Guerrero hit 29 home runs and led the team with 115 RBIs while Hamilton cracked 32 homers, drove in 100 runs, and led both leagues with a .359 batting average.

Faced with the possibility of losing both Bengie Molina and Matt Treanor to free agency (or retirement, in Molina’s case), the Rangers added depth to the backup catcher position by signing veteran Kevin Cash to a minor-league deal Wednesday. Across parts of eight big-league seasons with five different teams, Cash has recorded 12 home runs, 25 doubles and 58 RBIs.

And to the surprise of nobody, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made a visit to Arkansas this week to meet personally with free-agent left-hander Cliff Lee and his family. While no immediate contract offer was made, early reports indicate that it could take at least a six-year deal worth $160 million or more to obtain Lee’s services.