The Rangers are cleaning house.
Two days after firing manager Chris Woodward, the Rangers fired president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, giving the role to GM Chris Young, the team announced on Wednesday.
“The bottom line is we have not had a winning record since 2016 and for much of that time, have not been competitive in the AL West Division,” owner Ray Davis said in a statement announcing the move. “While I am certain we are heading in the right direction, I feel a change in leadership of the baseball operations department will be beneficial going forward.
“Chris Young is one of the top young baseball executives in the business and in his 21 months on the job has brought welcome energy and new ideas to the organization. I am confident in Chris’ ability to lead our baseball operations with the goal of producing a consistent winner on the field.”
Texas currently sits in third place in the AL West with a 52-64 record. The team spent $500 million over the offseason to try and build a playoff contender, adding Corey Seager and Marcus Semien — the former coming with a $325 million price tag.
Young, a former pitcher for six teams including the Mets, moved into an executive role after retiring in 2018. He first worked for MLB as the VP of on-field operations, initiatives and strategy, being promoted in 2020 to senior vice president.
Later that year, he was hired by the Rangers as general manager.
Now, at 43, he shoulders the responsibility of building the organization back into a competitive outfit.
The Rangers have not finished above .500 since 2016, last making the playoffs in the same season, when they were swept out of the ALDS by Toronto.
Carlos Beltran is reportedly a candidate to replace Woodward in the dugout.