Giving former MLBers Michael Young and Darren Oliver "significant voices" in MLB Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels’ "restructured inner circle will only help the club better understand their own players and those in whom the Rangers intend to make long-term investments," according to Evan Grant of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Sources said that Young and Daniels are "moving towards finalizing a deal" that would put Young "in the front office in a significant, albeit unstructured, role akin to a 'special assistant to the general manager.'" The Rangers are also "discussing a similar role" with Oliver. Young and Daniels "seamlessly transitioned from discussing the managerial position to a broader role with the club that would allow him to fill a significant void in the front office and still be able to coach his kids’ soccer teams." Such moves "often are really designed just to boost relations with the fan base a little." Grant: "This is not that kind of role. This has real meat to it." One thing that has "sorely lacked from the Rangers’ inner circle over the last two years is the presence of a former player." The Rangers had "bright minds, creative thinkers and risk-takers," but "lacked somebody who understood the contemporary player." In some ways, former CEO Nolan Ryan "served as that guy for the Rangers for his first few years with the club" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/2). In Ft. Worth, Jeff Wilson cites sources as saying that Young is already "doing background work on potential candidates for the managerial post." Young is also someone that Daniels and others with the club "will consult on certain matters, and he will work on special projects on the developmental side" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/2).
CLEANUP DETAIL: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel writes anybody with a track record is "allowed to have a bad year," and Daniels "has both." If someone is "going to blow it, at least have the decency to do it with style." The Rangers this season "didn’t just stink, they were once-a-generation bad." Whether you "like him or not or believe he is the chief beneficiary of ... Ryan’s 'divine touch,'” Daniels has "been here long enough and done enough to warrant a bad year." Engel: "He made this mess, and it’s on him to clean it up. He is in the final year of a contract, and like anybody in pro sports entering the last season of a deal, he needs to show everybody he can clean it up and make it better" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/2).
