Rangers President of Baseball Operations Chris Younger was not too long ago promoted to that title after signing an extension with the membership again in September. That place had been vacant since Younger took over baseball operations halfway by way of the 2022 season after the firing of then-president Jon Daniels. Now, it’s the GM function that stands vacant, and Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information reported this night that the Rangers could also be on the verge of a entrance workplace shakeup that might result in that emptiness being stuffed.
Based on Grant, the membership is “zeroed in on” hiring Rays director of baseball operations Cole Figueroa for an assistant GM function. That deal isn’t but accomplished, with Grant saying the rent stays depending on typical background checks being accomplished, but when that deal comes collectively than Grant means that the addition may subsequently result in the Rangers selling internally to fill the vacant GM function.
Figueroa, 37, was an infielder who briefly performed within the majors from 2014 to 2016, accumulating 84 plate appearances with the Rays, Yankees, and Pirates throughout that point. Since his retirement following the 2016 season, Figueroa started working within the Rays group in baseball operations. He was promoted to assistant director of hitting growth in 2018 earlier than taking over his present function with the Rays following the 2021 season. In some methods, Figueroa’s ascent as much as entrance workplace work is just like that of Younger, who spent 13 years pitching within the majors earlier than shifting first to the commissioner’s workplace after which to the Rangers’ entrance workplace as GM.
With Figueroa doubtless approaching board as an assistant GM, that might make means for a present assistant GM to maneuver up the ladder and change into Younger’s #2 within the entrance workplace. Particularly, Grant means that assistant GM and VP of participant growth and scouting Ross Fenstermaker could possibly be the particular person tapped for the function. Fenstermaker joined the Rangers as a baseball operations intern in 2010 and made his means up the ladder by way of the scouting division, serving as a scout and crosschecker for practically a decade earlier than being promoted to director of professional scouting in 2018 after which promoted as soon as once more to senior director of professional and worldwide scouting two years later.
After all, whether or not that truly happens or not stays to be seen, even when the Figueroa rent is accomplished. Grant notes that the Rangers have left the door open to discovering a brand new GM to offer Younger a right-hand man however have by no means dedicated to doing so, whilst entrance workplaces round baseball have more and more started to make the most of the GM function as a second-in-command behind the president of baseball operations. Texas isn’t the one membership seemingly considering the addition of a GM to their entrance workplace this winter; the Pink Sox may look to advertise internally for the function as properly, whereas the Giants not too long ago did the identical in hiring Zack Minasian to serve underneath new president of baseball operations Buster Posey.
