The Rangers announced on Friday that they have exercised their 2018 club option over manager Jeff Banister and added a new club option for the 2019 season to his contract as well. Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Banister essentially receives an entirely new contract, as he not only secures a 2019 option but also receives a salary raise.
That the decision on Banister comes well before the Rangers had any urgency to make the call indicates how pleased the front office and ownership was with the job that Banister did in 2015 — his first year as a big league manager. In terms of on-field results, there’s little for Rangers decision-makers to be unhappy with. Few pegged the injury-ravaged Rangers to contend in 2015, especially after ace Yu Darvish missed the season due to Tommy John surgery, but Banister’s club ultimately won the America League West on the strength of an 88-74 record. The Rangers’ strong performance under Banister earned him American League Manager of the Year honors in his rookie season as a skipper.
Banister’s Rangers enter the 2016 season with greater expectations. Darvish will return to the picture for much of the upcoming campaign, and the Rangers will enjoy a full season of trade-deadline acquisition Cole Hamels as well. Derek Holland and Martin Perez each hope to be ready for a full season as well after missing significant time early on in 2015.
Good job Rangers, this guy seem like a very good manager from what I’ve seen.
Fluke
They’ll probably end up faring better this year than your Mariners, bud.
I diddnt say anything about the Mariners
I miss him in Pittsburgh but I’m glad to see him succeed elsewhere. I have Texas winning the AL West this year and making a playoff run.
Said the same thing about Hurdle when he left Texas. Think it’s working out well for both of us.
Well your wrong
A little bitter are we?
Good for Bannister. He did a hell of a job with a lot of talent on the DL most of the year.
This is no fluke kingfelix34, Jeff is one heck of a baseball guy. He has held so many different jobs and been responsible for such a wide variety of different tasks within the Pirates organization over the last couple of decades, that after a couple of years as Clint’s bench coach, the guy had literally done and seen it all…not just from the field and bench, but administratively as well. He stepped into an organization with strong owners and a strong gm and wasn’t completely overwhelmed with the new job title because he was incredibly well groomed for the opportunity when it finally became reality. I wish Jeff nothing but success in the future with the Rangers, you guys definitely got yourself one heck of a skipper!