From the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant.
The Rangers will step outside the organization for the fresh perspective general manager Jon Daniels said he wants to bring to the clubhouse.
Oakland third base coach Ron Washington will be hired as the team™s manager, Daniels confirmed to The Dallas Morning News Monday morning.
Washington will succeed Buck Showalter, who was dismissed Oct. 4. He will be the team™s first black manager.
Washington, who has spent the last 11 years on the Oakland staff, met for the third time with Rangers officials Sunday.
The Rangers chose Washington, 54, over bench coach Don Wakamatsu and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman. Both have closer ties to Texas. Wakamatsu spent the last four years as Showalter’s bench coach. Hillman grew up in Arlington and was the Rangers’ director of player development in 2002. He also interviewed for the managerial opening before Showalter was hired.
There’d been some speculation (well, by me, anyway) that Oakland was quick to drop a dime on Ken Macha in the hopes of keeping the well-liked Washington (who was already scheduled for interviews elsewhere at the time of Macha’s firing) in the fold.
Nervous Eaters afficiando Mark Hale claims the Mets are flirting with Mark Loretta. OK, Julio Lugo, Mark Loretta, Adam Kennedy…does everyone in baseball believe that Jose Valentin’s 2006 was a tremendous fluke, or does Rafael Palmiero want his life back?
Billy Beane never wanted to hire Washington as manager. They are philosophically opposed.
Unless Washington can pitch, I’m not sure how much he will help the Rangers.
“Billy Beane never wanted to hire Washington as manager. They are philosophically opposed.”
I guess Erik Karros is shit out of luck, then.