Young signs extension with Rangers, promoted to president of baseball ops

SEATTLE -- The architect of the first World Series title in franchise history won’t be leaving the Metroplex.

The Rangers announced on Friday that they’ve signed general manager Chris Young to a multiyear extension. He was also promoted to president of baseball operations, a position Jon Daniels previously held.

A Dallas native, Young joined the organization as executive vice president and GM in December 2020, looking forward to working alongside Daniels. When Daniels was relieved of his duties in August 2022, Young took over all baseball operations, though he did not assume the title at the time.

Young led the Rangers to the first World Series championship in franchise history in ‘23, his first full year as the sole head of baseball operations.

Now, he’s locked in for the near future to get Texas back to the pinnacle.

“His long-term vision is to bring championships here,” manager Bruce Bochy said before the Rangers’ Friday night game against the Mariners. “He’s always going to say that, that’s what he’s about. You couldn’t have a more perfect guy running this organization and being our leader than CY because he’s so committed to bringing the best team he can to the fans, for the players.

“He grew up a Rangers fan, played for the Rangers, and has such a passion for the game and winning. I’m really excited for him, and for everybody, because he’s going to be doing this a long time.”

Young’s defining signing likely wasn’t World Series MVP Corey Seager or team leader Marcus Semien or even pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom. It was bringing Bochy,the likely future Hall of Fame manager, out of retirement to lead the club on the field.

“Chris Young’s impact on the Texas Rangers organization has been immense over the last four years,” said Rangers majority owner Ray Davis in a statement. “His leadership and vision were instrumental in helping bring a World Series championship to Arlington for the first time, and he is passionate about producing a consistent winner on the field year in and year out for our fans.

“Our baseball operations group, from scouting and player development to the Major League team, is in great hands with CY at the helm for many years to come. I look forward to continuing our work together.”

In 2023, Young became just the third person since 1950 to win a World Series as both a player and a general manager, joining Johnny Murphy and Stan Musial. Young won a ring with the 2015 Royals.

He is also the first former big leaguer to win the World Series in a head baseball operations role since Kenny Williams of the Chicago White Sox in 2005.

Young pitched in 13 big league seasons, including two with his hometown Rangers in 2004-05. After his playing career was over, he spent three years working in the Commissioner's Office from 2018-20.

“The Texas Rangers organization holds a very special place for me, and I am excited to continue building on what we’ve started here,” said Young in a statement. “While the opportunity to be a part of a World Series championship in my hometown was a tremendous thrill, our goal is to field a club that can contend for playoff berths every season. I’m grateful to Ray Davis for the trust he’s placed in me, and I’m confident we’ll be successful on this mission. Our fans deserve nothing less.”

The timing of his deal was poignant, coming the morning after Kumar Rocker struck out seven in one of the most highly anticipated MLB debuts in Rangers history, and just before deGrom made his return to Major League action after a 17-month absence due to Tommy John surgery -- with Max Scherzer waiting in the wings to make his return from injury Saturday.

By the time the contract was announced, Young was no longer in Seattle to discuss it. He’d already flown to Japan, to scout 22-year-old phenom right-hander Roki Sasaki.

“CY’s a pitcher, and he understands how important pitching and defense is to the game,” Bochy said. “That’s a huge focus. When I came here, that’s what he wanted to do -- bring in pitching, which he did with Nate [Eovaldi] and Andrew [Heaney] and Max and deGrom. It helped bring us a championship, having that vision, and that’ll continue to be one of his focuses.”