Rangers name Chris Young general manager

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers announced they have hired former 13-year Major League pitcher Chris Young as executive vice president and general manager. He will work directly under Jon Daniels, who remains president of baseball operations.

Daniels had been handling both roles even though many Major League teams have employed both a president of baseball operations and a general manager working directly under them.

“When [Rangers owner] Ray Davis and I sat down after the season to evaluate our baseball operation, we agreed that adding the separate role of general manager would make us a stronger organization in a number of ways,” Daniels said in a statement. “The responsibilities of running a Major League Baseball operation have increased significantly, and many successful MLB organizations now have a similar structure in place.

“I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Chris and the many talented individuals we have in the Texas Rangers baseball operations group as we continue to grow and improve on both the Major and Minor League levels.”

Young, 41, who had been working as a senior vice president for Major League Baseball, will be formally introduced on Monday at Globe Life Field. Young, who was born in Dallas and still lives there, received a multi-year contract to become the ninth general manager in Rangers history.

“I am extremely excited to join Ray, Jon and the entire Texas Rangers organization,” Young said in a statement. “As a Dallas native who grew up rooting for the Rangers, I recognize what a special opportunity this is, and how much the Rangers mean to this community. I look forward to learning from and working with Jon on a daily basis. I am confident that with his and Chris Woodward’s leadership and with the strong group of baseball operations individuals in place, we will accomplish our goal of building a championship team.”

Young joins a rebuilding franchise that finished 22-38 in 2020, the worst record in the American League. It was Texas' fourth consecutive losing season, and it is committed to a youth movement.

Davis expressed his confidence in Daniels in a media session after the season was over. But he was also receptive to Daniels’ recommendation that a general manager be added to the front-office structure.

“When Jon recommended that we add the role of a general manager, I was in total agreement with his thinking,” Davis said. “I have had the opportunity to interact with Chris Young on a number of Major League Baseball initiatives, and his qualifications make him the ideal person to take on this role. I believe in Jon Daniels and his track record of building winning teams. I am very optimistic about the future of our club and I look forward to working with Jon, Chris, and our baseball group in 2021 and beyond.”

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. issued the following statement after the Rangers made the announcement.

“All of us at Major League Baseball congratulate Chris Young on this great opportunity to once again join his hometown team, this time as general manager. Since 2018, Chris has brought a valued perspective to a number of important issues, and he has been an outstanding friend and colleague to countless people at the Commissioner’s Office. The Rangers know they are getting an exceptional person. I wish Chris and his family all the best, and look forward to his continued impact on our great game.”

Young pitched at Highland Park High School and Princeton University -- earning a bachelor's degree in politics -- before he was chosen by the Pirates in the third round of the 2000 MLB Draft. After he was traded to the Expos and then to Texas, Young made his Major League debut with the Rangers in '04. He pitched two seasons with Texas and was traded to the Padres on Jan. 6, 2006.

Young, first baseman Adrián González and outfielder Terrmel Sledge were sent to San Diego for pitchers Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka, and catcher Billy Killian. The deal was done in Daniels’ first offseason as the Rangers' general manager.

At 6-foot-10, Young also played basketball at Princeton and at one point considered an offer from the Sacramento Kings to jump to the NBA. He pitched for five Major League teams in his career, including the Mariners in 2014, when current Rangers manager Chris Woodward was on the coaching staff there.

Young’s last season came in 2017 with the Royals. He went to camp with the Padres in '18 but was released at the end of Spring Training. He then joined the Commissioner’s Office once his playing career was over.

“This is an exciting day for the Texas Rangers' organization,” Daniels said. “Chris Young’s background and experiences will be a huge asset to our baseball operations group. He is a very well-regarded executive in our game in his role as Major League Baseball’s head of on-field operations. Chris’ 13-year MLB career, including two seasons with the Rangers, gives him a perspective that is unique in baseball management. He was born and raised in Dallas, where he was a Rangers fan at a young age."

With Major League Baseball, Young oversaw the on-field operations and umpiring departments, and he served as the league’s principal liaison to league managers. He worked on the application of playing rules and regulations, on-field standards and discipline, pace of play and other special projects. Young also has had an active role in issues regarding player safety, on-field equipment, wearable technology and ballpark alterations.

Young also worked closely with the Rangers on baseball issues related to the construction of Globe Life Field and oversaw the on-field operations for the three rounds of the 2020 MLB playoffs in Arlington this fall. Young originally joined Major League Baseball's front office as vice president in May 2018 and was promoted in February 2020.