Daniels becomes youngest GM after Hart resigns from Rangers
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- As a kid, Jon Daniels used to read the transactions to see how teams were being built before he even looked at the box scores.
Now he'll be the one making the moves for the Texas Rangers as the youngest general manager in major league history.
John Hart resigned Tuesday after a disappointing four-year stint that failed to get the Rangers back into the playoffs. He was replaced by Daniels, who at 28 years, 41 days, was about 10 months younger than Theo Epstein when he became Boston's GM on Nov. 25, 2002.
``It didn't take me long to realize my future wasn't going to be on the field,'' Daniels said. ``So this is what I have aspired to for quite a while.''
Two years after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in applied economics and management, Daniels worked under GM Dan O'Dowd in Colorado in 2001. He took an entry-level job with the Rangers the next year, and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2004.
``As I got in the business world and did some things, I thought if I'm going to commit myself to something, I'm going to commit myself to something I love,'' Daniels said. ``I hope to keep moving forward with this club. .. The last four years have been a whirlwind learning curve for me.''
Hart's resignation came two days after the Rangers finished 79-83, their third losing season in four years under Hart and their fifth since winning their last AL West title in 1999. He will remain a team consultant.
Cleveland won six division titles and twice went to the World Series under Hart through 2001. But the Rangers contended just once during Hart's tenure, in 2004 when they were 89-73 and finished just three games out of first.
``I feel, no question, it's on the right track. I also feel that there's a disappointment that it didn't work out,'' Hart said. ``It's a disappointment I have to carry with me.''
Rangers owner Tom Hicks was adamant that Hart decided to retire, and wasn't pushed out.
``This is something that has been openly talked about on a very planned basis,'' Hicks said. ``John Hart did resign, period.''
Daniels was targeted as a likely successor last year soon after Hicks, with the help of manager Buck Showalter, persuaded Hart to stay through 2005, a season longer than his original contract.
``J.D. is a special talent. He has a brilliant baseball mind. You get to know him, you'll see why I made the decision,'' Hicks said. ``There are some other young general managers out there in the game today. They've had success with a new approach.''
Hicks also considered that three other current GMs had previously worked with Hart. They are Cleveland's Mark Shapiro, Paul DePodesta of the Los Angeles Dodgers and O'Dowd.
``Jon fits right into that mold,'' Hart said. ``He has qualities that you look for in a leader and he has the respect of everyone in the organization.''
Showalter was the youngest manager when he took over the New York Yankees at age 35 in October 1991. He already trusts his new boss after many late-night conversations they've had about the Rangers during the past year.
``He's a special young man. He's sharp and has great people skills,'' Showalter said. ``He's a quick learner. J.D. will make the decisions, and most of the time he's been right.''
Hart brought in Showalter, who last year was the AL manager of the year.
The first big free agent signing for Hart was pitcher Chan Ho Park to a $65 million, five-year contract, but Park made just 68 starts in 3 1/2 injury-plagued seasons before being traded to San Diego this summer.
Hart let perennial All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez become a free agent after the 2002 season, and just before spring training in 2004 traded AL MVP Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. One of his last official acts as GM was notifying Kenny Rogers this week that the team would not bring the 40-year-old left-hander back next season.
The Rangers still have young infielders Michael Young, Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira -- all who have been All-Stars like Soriano. All were acquired before Hart's arrival, though he signed Young and Blalock to contract extensions.
``We have a number of core players in place. We need to have a good offseason and build on the good core,'' Daniels said. ``I'm exciting about leading and continuing in the right direction. .. But it's not a secret that we need to improve a number of areas on this club, specifically the pitching staff.''
Johnny: I think I am going to like J.D. He wants pitching? In Texas? What a concept!
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- As a kid, Jon Daniels used to read the transactions to see how teams were being built before he even looked at the box scores.
Now he'll be the one making the moves for the Texas Rangers as the youngest general manager in major league history.
John Hart resigned Tuesday after a disappointing four-year stint that failed to get the Rangers back into the playoffs. He was replaced by Daniels, who at 28 years, 41 days, was about 10 months younger than Theo Epstein when he became Boston's GM on Nov. 25, 2002.
``It didn't take me long to realize my future wasn't going to be on the field,'' Daniels said. ``So this is what I have aspired to for quite a while.''
Two years after graduating from Cornell University with a degree in applied economics and management, Daniels worked under GM Dan O'Dowd in Colorado in 2001. He took an entry-level job with the Rangers the next year, and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2004.
``As I got in the business world and did some things, I thought if I'm going to commit myself to something, I'm going to commit myself to something I love,'' Daniels said. ``I hope to keep moving forward with this club. .. The last four years have been a whirlwind learning curve for me.''
Hart's resignation came two days after the Rangers finished 79-83, their third losing season in four years under Hart and their fifth since winning their last AL West title in 1999. He will remain a team consultant.
Cleveland won six division titles and twice went to the World Series under Hart through 2001. But the Rangers contended just once during Hart's tenure, in 2004 when they were 89-73 and finished just three games out of first.
``I feel, no question, it's on the right track. I also feel that there's a disappointment that it didn't work out,'' Hart said. ``It's a disappointment I have to carry with me.''
Rangers owner Tom Hicks was adamant that Hart decided to retire, and wasn't pushed out.
``This is something that has been openly talked about on a very planned basis,'' Hicks said. ``John Hart did resign, period.''
Daniels was targeted as a likely successor last year soon after Hicks, with the help of manager Buck Showalter, persuaded Hart to stay through 2005, a season longer than his original contract.
``J.D. is a special talent. He has a brilliant baseball mind. You get to know him, you'll see why I made the decision,'' Hicks said. ``There are some other young general managers out there in the game today. They've had success with a new approach.''
Hicks also considered that three other current GMs had previously worked with Hart. They are Cleveland's Mark Shapiro, Paul DePodesta of the Los Angeles Dodgers and O'Dowd.
``Jon fits right into that mold,'' Hart said. ``He has qualities that you look for in a leader and he has the respect of everyone in the organization.''
Showalter was the youngest manager when he took over the New York Yankees at age 35 in October 1991. He already trusts his new boss after many late-night conversations they've had about the Rangers during the past year.
``He's a special young man. He's sharp and has great people skills,'' Showalter said. ``He's a quick learner. J.D. will make the decisions, and most of the time he's been right.''
Hart brought in Showalter, who last year was the AL manager of the year.
The first big free agent signing for Hart was pitcher Chan Ho Park to a $65 million, five-year contract, but Park made just 68 starts in 3 1/2 injury-plagued seasons before being traded to San Diego this summer.
Hart let perennial All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez become a free agent after the 2002 season, and just before spring training in 2004 traded AL MVP Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. One of his last official acts as GM was notifying Kenny Rogers this week that the team would not bring the 40-year-old left-hander back next season.
The Rangers still have young infielders Michael Young, Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira -- all who have been All-Stars like Soriano. All were acquired before Hart's arrival, though he signed Young and Blalock to contract extensions.
``We have a number of core players in place. We need to have a good offseason and build on the good core,'' Daniels said. ``I'm exciting about leading and continuing in the right direction. .. But it's not a secret that we need to improve a number of areas on this club, specifically the pitching staff.''
Johnny: I think I am going to like J.D. He wants pitching? In Texas? What a concept!
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