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: Forgettable Year Ends with Hope for ’15

Right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla has emerged as a strong rotation candidate for next season, going 3-0 in his three starts down the stretch.

Although they lost two of their final three games and placed last in the American League West division for the first time since 2007, the Rangers nonetheless mounted a strong finish to the season and have reason to be optimistic about next year and beyond.

Texas ended the season 31 games behind Los Angeles in the A.L. West, playing out the string just well enough to yield the worst record in baseball – and with it, the top pick in next summer’s amateur draft – to Arizona.

Injuries were the theme of the 2014 campaign before players even reported for spring training, beginning when starting pitcher Derek Holland underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee in early January.

The next key injury was sustained by second baseman Jurickson Profar, and as the year progressed the DL included more everyday players (Shin-Soo Choo, Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland) as well as starters (Matt Harrison, Martin Perez, Tanner Scheppers) and relievers (Alexi Ogando, Joe Ortiz).

Over the course of the season, the Rangers used a major-league record 64 different players on their active roster, and by the end of September no fewer than 12 members of the team had made their way onto the 60-day disabled list.

Texas fell out of the division race by early summer as Los Angeles and Oakland laid claim to the top two spots in mid-May and never looked back, but the revolving roster did present a chance for young prospects to prove themselves at the major-league level.

The brightest star to emerge from this shipwrecked season was second baseman Rougned Odor, who filled in admirably for Profar following the departure of Ian Kinsler. The 20-year-old Odor batted .259 for the Rangers after being called up from Double-A Frisco in May, contributing seven triples and 14 doubles while earning a reputation for coming through in clutch situations.

A pair of right-handed hurlerspicked up from National League clubs – Lisalverto Bonilla and Shawn Tolleson – made a positive impact on the pitching staff in ’14, and both appear to be part of Texas’ plans going forward.

Bonilla, acquired from Philadelphia in the Michael Young trade two winters ago, logged 39 appearances at Triple-A Round Rock this season before getting called up, then won each of his first three big-league starts for Texas.

The 26-year-old Tolleson, an Allen High School graduate, was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers last November and went 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA across 64 games out of the Rangers’ bullpen this season.

Another bright spot for Texas was the play of catcher Robinson Chirinos, infielder Adam Rosales and outfielder Dan Robertson, each of whom exceeded expectations and put themselves in good position for a roster spot next spring.

Season Ends on a High Note

With an interim manager and nothing substantial to play for but pride, the Rangers generated some momentum for next year by winning 13 out of 16 games to complete their season.

The final homestand began with a three-game sweep over visiting Houston, as minor-league veteran Guilder Rodriguez provided the go-ahead RBI last Monday before Nick Martinez and Lisalverto Bonilla turned in back-to-back quality starts Tuesday and Wednesday.

Texas then split a four-game set with the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, a series that featured Adrian Beltre’s walk-off home run on Thursday and a combination of eight pitchers used en route to a 5-4 victory on Saturday.

Oakland will be the next regular-season opponent for the Rangers as well, as the two clubs are scheduled to start the 2015 campaign on Apr. 6 at O.co Coliseum.

Daniels Wants New Skipper this Month

Texas GM Jon Daniels spoke to the media following the final game of the year on Sunday, and he addressed his wish to hire a full-time manager by the end of the World Series this month.

Interim skipper Tim Bogar is one of at least three internal candidates who will be interviewed for the job, along with pitching coach Mike Maddux and Triple-A manager Steve Buechele, and the club is looking at several options outside the organization as well.

“It’s important to go through the process,” Daniels said. “There is a lot more conviction among the players, staff, fans, other people if we have gone through the process and [Bogar] is clearly the guy.”

The Rangers went 14-8 under Bogar’s leadership after Ron Washington abruptly announced his resignation on Sept. 5.

Ron Washington Steps Down as Rangers Manager

Ron Washington led Texas to its only two World Series berths in 2010 and 2011.

Ron Washington, the most successful manager in Rangers franchise history, unexpectedly resigned Friday from the post he had held for nearly eight years.

Washington, 62, cited “an off-the-field personal matter” as the reason behind his sudden resignation, which leaves bench coach Tim Bogar as the interim Texas skipper.

“As painful as it is, stepping away from the game is what’s best for me and my family,” Washington said in a statement released by the team. “I deeply regret that I’ve let down the Rangers organization and our great fans.

“Over the past eight seasons, it’s been a privilege to be part of some of the best years in club history and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here, and for the great management, players, and coaches who have made our time here a success. Thank you for respecting my privacy.”

No further details were offered from Washington or general manager Jon Daniels, who addressed the situation in a press conference Friday afternoon with owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson.

“While we’re disappointed,” Daniels said, “we accept Ron’s decision and are grateful to him, personally and professionally, for his contributions to the organization and the community in what has been really a record-setting and historic eight-year run as manager of the club.

“A lot of firsts, a lot of records, a lot of tremendous moments … together as an organization and a fan base, and we’re very, very grateful and thankful for all those things.”

Washington was named the 17th full-time manager in team history on Nov. 6, 2006, after Buck Showalter had been fired the previous month.

Inheriting a ballclub that had finished no higher than third place in A.L. West in almost a decade (and would finish last in his debut season), Washington helped to spark a gradual turnaround that saw the team increase its win total over each of the next four years, culminating in a franchise-best 96-66 mark in 2011.

Under Washington’s management, Texas made its first two World Series appearances in 2010 and ’11, only to be defeated by the National League’s San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.

While the Rangers tailed off but remained competitive over the next two years, the 2014 season has been a disappointing series of bad breaks and poor performances, and Texas has now held the worst record in baseball (53-87) for more than two months.

Washington departs as the franchise’s all-time leader in a number of managerial categories, including games (1,278), regular-season wins (665) and postseason victories (18).

Holland Impressive in Return to Mound

The first key injury of this dreadful season came in January when southpaw Derek Holland tripped over his dog at home and sustained torn cartilage and other damage in his left knee.

Holland finally made his 2014 debut last Tuesday in Kansas City, and he pitched well despite receiving a no-decision in the Rangers’ 2-1 defeat. Across seven innings of work, he gave up one run on six hits with six strikeouts before Michael Kirkman allowed the go-ahead run to score in the eighth.

Tuesday marked the second of eight consecutive losses endured by Texas over the last 10 days, dropping the Rangers – the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention this year – 33.5 games behind the division-leading Angels.

Texas was able to snap its skid in Holland’s second appearance, however, as he outdueled Seattle lefty James Paxton en route to a 1-0 win Sunday at Globe Life Park, with Shawn Tolleson and Neftali Feliz each tossing a shutout inning to preserve the victory.

Roster Additions Abound with September Call-Ups

In order to make room for Holland on the active roster (as well as for Robbie Ross, who made a spot start in place of Miles Mikolas last week), right-hander Nick Tepesch was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock and first baseman Mike Carp was designated for assignment on Aug. 29.

Tepesch was recalled from Round Rock when rosters expanded just a few days later, as were pitchers Lisalverto Bonilla and Michael Kirkman and infielder Luis Sardinas.

The Rangers then selected the contract of reliever Spencer Patton from Triple-A on Thursday, and on Sunday veteran infielder Guilder Rodriguez had his contract purchased from Double-A Frisco.

On a dubious historical footnote, Derek Holland became the 60th different player to appear in a game for Texas this year, establishing a new big-league record for most players used by one team in a single season.

Rangers Notes: Texas Rewards Perez with Four-Year Contract

Across 20 major-league starts this season, Martin Perez went 10-6 and posted a 3.62 ERA with an average of 2.27 strikeouts per walk.

On the heels of his first full season in the big leagues, during which he reached double-digits in victories and was named the Rangers Rookie of the Year, left-hander Martin Perez received a four-year contract extension last Thursday worth $12.5 million.

In addition to the four guaranteed years through 2017, Texas holds club options for each of the next three seasons as well, meaning Perez could stay in a Rangers uniform through the 2020 season.

“I don’t ever want to forget this day,” he said. “This is the most important day of my life … I want to stay here my entire career. I’m still going to be the same person. I want to do my best and help this team compete for the World Series.”

The 22-year-old Perez was poised to win a rotation spot this spring before suffering a fractured wrist, but he would take advantage of injuries to other pitchers once the summer months set in.

Following a one-game start in a May doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, Perez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock for good in late June and won nine of his next eleven decisions.

In total, Perez fashioned a 10-6 record over 20 starts for Texas this summer while ranking third on the team in both strikeouts (84) and innings pitched (124-plus).

“We’ve seen him grow as a person and obviously on the mound,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “He’s always had good arm action, good stuff, but he’s put it together and become a pitcher.”

The ballclub’s commitment to Perez indicates that he will enter next season as one of the projected starters in a lefty-heavy Texas rotation, joined by right-hander Yu Darvish and fellow southpaws Matt Harrison and Derek Holland.

Colby Lewis and Matt Garza are both free agents, with Garza set to receive more attention on the open market due to Lewis’s recent history of arm troubles.

Molina, Jones Round out Coaching Staff

Former Gold Glove award-winning catcher Bengie Molina was named the new Texas first-base coach on Tuesday while Rangers mainstay Bobby Jones was promoted from Triple-A manager to major-league assistant hitting coach.

Molina, 39, retired after helping lead Texas to its first World Series appearance in 2010, and he returns to the Rangers after spending the past season as assistant hitting coach for the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Molina said. “I think I have a lot of knowledge in different areas of the game. I can help anybody at any time. I just have it in my head that I’m going to come in and help as many people as I can.”

In addition to his duties at first base, Molina will serve as the Rangers’ big-league catching instructor as well. He and Jones complete a staff under manager Ron Washington that includes bench coach Tim Bogar, pitching coach Mike Maddux, hitting coach Dave Magadan and third-base coach Gary Pettis.

Cruz Declines Qualifying Offer

Free-agent outfielder Nelson Cruz formally turned down the Rangers’ qualifying offer of $14.1 million on Monday as the Major League Baseball general managers’ meetings began in Orlando.

Cruz, 33, is coming off a suspension-shortened year in which he nonetheless managed 27 home runs with 76 RBIs and was named an American League All-Star for the second time in his career.

Originally signed by the New York Mets in 1998, Cruz was traded first to Oakland and then to Milwaukee, where he had a brief big-league stint in 2005 before getting dealt to Texas as part of the trade that sent Francisco Cordero to the Brewers.

Although he struggled to find consistent playing time over his first three seasons with the Rangers, Cruz enjoyed a breakout 2009 campaign when he belted 33 homers with 21 doubles and 20 stolen bases.