Daniels charges into 2015 searching for new manager, more wins

Jon Daniels eulogized the Texas Rangers’ 2014 season late Sunday afternoon. He could have done it Monday or Tuesday, as he has after past seasons, but there was no need to wait.

He had known his club’s fate since June. As general manager, he was the one who helped set the course to last place in motion, announcing an emphasis on development after it became clear that injuries and a lack of depth had booted the Rangers from contender status.

Nothing that happened over the final month, aside from the sudden resignation of Ron Washington, changed the off-season outlook Daniels gave shortly after the Rangers wrapped up a 67-95 campaign with a 4-0 loss to playoff-bound Oakland.

Daniels was as open as he allows himself to be while discussing how the Rangers will rebuild this off-season and when dissecting why the Rangers weren’t contenders for the first time since 2008.

“It starts with myself, decisions I’ve made and we made as an organization,” he said.

Replacing Washington is job No. 1 for 2015, and that begins now. But the talent-acquisition plan Daniels laid out won’t be a crowd-pleaser.

The Rangers won’t be in the hunt for the top free-agent starters, such as Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, but they will add at least one free agent and, it seems almost certain, re-sign Colby Lewis.

One starter from the group that includes the Nicks, Tepesch and Martinez, will likely fill another rotation spot.

“I don’t expect to play at the top end of free agency this year, for a variety of reasons,” Daniels said. “But, I also think there are other ways to acquire quality innings in the rotation.”

Most answers to the questions about the lineup will have to come from within. That means power surges are a necessity from the expected-to-be-healthy Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo and, if he isn’t non-tendered, Mitch Moreland.

That’s a big bat short, which the Rangers were entering this season.

But as they exit 2014, Daniels cautioned that it’s too soon to start pinning down lineups and fretting about who will provide the pop.

“Those are all questions that we will sort through, but we’ve got some other things to work on right now,” he said.

The task of finding a full-time manager will begin in earnest this week, when three internal candidates — interim manager Tim Bogar, pitching coach Mike Maddux and Triple A manager Steve Buechele — are interviewed.

Daniels said that four or five external candidates, a few who are with playoff teams, will also get a chance. Bogar enters as the heavy favorite, based on his 14-8 mark as Washington’s fill-in and how he conducted himself and helped young players find their stride.

“I do think the atmosphere that was created, the communication with the players, the in-game management, how he worked with you guys in the media were all very good,” Daniels said. “I really appreciate the job he did, and that factors in for me.”

“I think it’s really important for the organization to get this hire right. And for the fans and players and everyone else involved to feel like we were as thorough as possible, and when we announce our full-time manager to know that there was a lot that went into it.”

Daniels hopes to have the new manager in place before the World Series, which begins Oct. 21, to get his input on whom the Rangers might want to target in free agency.

Otherwise, he will have to wait until after the Fall Classic to make an announcement, as the commissioner doesn’t like any attention being taken away from baseball’s biggest stage. The problem with waiting is that the free-agent signing period begins as soon as the world champs start celebrating.

So, it’s go-time in the center-field offices at Globe Life Park. Daniels will punch the accelerator Monday. There’s a lot of work to be done if the Rangers are to live up to his expectations for 2015.

“I expect that we’re going to win next year,” he said. “The years of hoping and praying are gone.”

It might not hurt to say a little prayer anyway.

This story was originally published September 28, 2014 at 9:32 PM with the headline "Daniels charges into 2015 searching for new manager, more wins."