SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Texas Rangers and manager Ron Washington agreed Monday to a contract extension through 2015, ending questions about whether Washington would enter the 2014 season under lame-duck status.
Washington, 61, joined the club after the 2006 season following nearly a decade as Oakland's third-base coach. No manager in franchise history has more wins (611), and he's been at the helm during the organization's most successful era --including two AL West championships and trips to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.
"This was a foregone conclusion, certainly in my mind and in the Rangers' mind going forward, that this is the guy that has been our leader through a lot of tremendous times, our field leader, and it's been a partnership from day one," Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. "I expect that to continue for a long time to come."
Daniels decided to make a managerial change after his first year as GM, firing Buck Showalter and hiring Washington, a first-time manager. Daniels made the hire believing that Washington could help teach a young club and grow along with it.
Washington, 61, joined the club after the 2006 season following nearly a decade as Oakland's third-base coach. No manager in franchise history has more wins (611), and he's been at the helm during the organization's most successful era --including two AL West championships and trips to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.
"This was a foregone conclusion, certainly in my mind and in the Rangers' mind going forward, that this is the guy that has been our leader through a lot of tremendous times, our field leader, and it's been a partnership from day one," Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. "I expect that to continue for a long time to come."
Daniels decided to make a managerial change after his first year as GM, firing Buck Showalter and hiring Washington, a first-time manager. Daniels made the hire believing that Washington could help teach a young club and grow along with it.
