Wednesday Newsletter time: Call Ron Washington a world champ. He should be called A's manager next.
The former Rangers manager has been coaching third base for the Atlanta Braves, who clinched the World Series on Tuesday night.
One goal down, one to go for Ron Washington.
The former Texas Rangers manager finally has his World Series ring, as third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves. They beat the Houston Astros 7-0 on Tuesday night to become baseball’s champions for 2021.
Washington led the Rangers to the World Series in 2010 and 2011, where they lost each time. The loss 10 years ago stings to this day.
So does his departure from the Rangers in 2014, completely without warning and under the cloud of infidelity. He hasn’t been a manager again since, though he thought he had the San Diego Padres’ job in 2019.
There are currently two managerial openings, with the New York Mets and the Oakland A’s. The latter seems to be a perfect fit for Washington, who was a longtime Oakland assistant coach before joining the Rangers and returned there after leaving the Rangers.
The A’s could be headed toward a rebuild, and would need a manager who could teach young players and get the most out of them. Washington checks those two boxes.
It makes a lot sense. Plus, now he has a World Series ring.
One goal down, one to go.
Full steam ahead
An email from Major League Baseball popped into my inbox Monday afternoon telling media members that credential applications are now being taken for the annual winter meetings.
I immediately submitted my request, booked a room off-site and put a flight reservation on hold. The hotel reservation can be canceled without penalty. I’m going to have to look into insurance on that flight.
The reason? The winter meetings might not be held as scheduled Dec. 6-8. It’s possible that owners lock out the players if an agreement can’t be reached on a new collective bargaining agreement by the wee hours of Dec. 2.
A lockout could freeze all offseason business until a new CBA is reached, including free-agent signings. Some stories have been written about the uncertainty facing teams as they look for external help.
The Rangers, who have a track record of reaching free-agent deals before the winter meetings, say they won’t be deterred by the undercertainty from diving in early.
“If there are great opportunities there, we'd welcome it,” president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said.
Teams are facing some uncertainty concerning the luxury-tax threshold in the new CBA, though the Rangers likely aren’t one of them. They have stripped down the payroll to $26 million.
The question is if players want to wait for the labor issues to be settled. Some might want to watch their market develop. Others might want to know as soon as possible where they will be playing in 2022 and beyond.
The Rangers will strike if the right deal is there.
“I think it just depends on the player and the fit for the Texas Rangers,” general manager Chris Young said. “I think that that's our focus. The advantage is that we're getting the right players for the organization to help move us forward whatever the timing may be.”
Back in the big leagues
Jeff Banister is back in the majors, joining the Arizona Diamondbacks as bench coach.
The former Rangers manager joined the staff of D-backs manager Torey Lovullo on Monday, more than three years after he was fired by the Rangers and more than a year after he wasn’t kept on by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a special assistant during the COVID shutdown in 2020.
Banister was out of pro ball in 2021.
“I love the intensity of the game," Banister told reporters. "I love the energy of the game. I love watching players compete. I know that Torey, he thinks, he's pretty stoic about the game. I hope that I add some energy inside that coaching room, inside that clubhouse, that complements Torey and is completely infectious with the entire coaching staff.”
Banister didn’t lack for intensity or energy in leading the Rangers to division titles in 2015 and 2016, but it didn’t play well with teams that trended younger in 2017 and 2018. He lost the clubhouse, or key players in it, and the Rangers let him go before the end of the 2018 season even though they had exercised his option for 2019.
He has experience as a big-league bench coach, holding that post with the Pirates from 2010-2014 before leaving for the Rangers.
Doggy video!
Why go through all that extra effort? Enjoy. See you Wednesday.
Very happy for Ron Washington getting a World Series ring. He's not a good fit for the Mets, but his history with the A's bodes well. Just wondering if the A's with their history of advanced metrics would consider an old baseball man.
As a Rangers fan, I would feel great about having him managing for any of our division rivals.