The Texas Rangers made a somewhat quiet move on Saturday, becoming the next team to find a new leader heading in to next season. The Rangers hired Chris Woodward as their new manager, getting him from the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was the third base coach. Woodward receives a three-year contract, including an option for the 2022 campaign, with the new position and will be officially introduced on Monday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
The 42-year-old is now a manager for the first time in his career, spending the past three years as an assistant with the Dodgers. That does include the last two National League Championships, so the Rangers are hoping for that experience to carry over to a young team. As a player, he played 12 seasons in the majors as an infielder, doing so with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
Woodward retired in 2012 and joined the Mariners' organization as an infield coach through the 2015 season. He would sign on with the Dodgers from there, and now replaces Jeff Bannister as the Rangers' manager. Texas is coming off a 67-95 season, which was good for last place in the American League West Division, which has been dominated by the Houston Astros as of late.
Woodward could be managing a former teammate of his in Adrian Beltre, whom he played with in 2009 with Seattle. Although, Beltre has yet to announce whether or not he will return for his 21st major league season. The Rangers will open up the season under their new manager on March 28th against the Chicago Cubs.
The 42-year-old is now a manager for the first time in his career, spending the past three years as an assistant with the Dodgers. That does include the last two National League Championships, so the Rangers are hoping for that experience to carry over to a young team. As a player, he played 12 seasons in the majors as an infielder, doing so with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
Woodward retired in 2012 and joined the Mariners' organization as an infield coach through the 2015 season. He would sign on with the Dodgers from there, and now replaces Jeff Bannister as the Rangers' manager. Texas is coming off a 67-95 season, which was good for last place in the American League West Division, which has been dominated by the Houston Astros as of late.
Woodward could be managing a former teammate of his in Adrian Beltre, whom he played with in 2009 with Seattle. Although, Beltre has yet to announce whether or not he will return for his 21st major league season. The Rangers will open up the season under their new manager on March 28th against the Chicago Cubs.
