*Photo from the Dallas Morning News*
It appears that the Texas Rangers are liking what they've seen out of their skipper. The Rangers and manager Chris Woodward have agreed to a contract extension that keeps him behind the bench through the 2023 season, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The Rangers have confirmed the agreement.
The extension, at least for the 2022 season, was just house money, as Woodward's team option for the 2022 season had been picked up in March as the Rangers were getting ready to break camp and begin the season. This new extension keeps him around for 2023 as well, with a team option for the 2024 season.
Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said of Woodward that "He is the leader on and off field the field, in the way he goes about pushing the group and consistency pushing that message throughout the organization. I just feel really strongly about him and how he goes about his business and who he is as a person. It's so genuine to see how much these guys respond to him and have genuine interest in playing for him and working with him. So I’m really excited about what we're going to accomplish together over a number of years ahead."
Woodward joined the Rangers as manager in the 2019 season, becoming the 19th manager in team history after serving as 3rd base and infield coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 3 years, with previous coaching experience with the Seattle Mariners. In 3 seasons managing the Rangers, Woodward has a 160-224 record.
Asked about the future of the Rangers, Woodward said "Obviously, I definitely lead with my heart and I think JD knows that. At the same time, I feel like I have a responsibility taking on this job and keeping everybody moving in the right direction and holding our standards as high as possible. We haven’t won a lot the last few years and I take full blame for that. We need to be better, but we're moving in the right direction. Obviously. I think we're around that corner, and I can't wait for what's going to happen next."
The Rangers are gearing up for an offseason of aggressive additions, with the payroll flexibility to do it. They have been in negotiations with some of the top free agents in this year's class, with the belief that Woodward is the man to lead them out of the rebuild and back into contention status in both 2022 and the upcoming years.
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