The MLB Rangers on Friday announced contact extensions for President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels and Assistant GM Thad Levine that will "kick in after their current deals expire next year," according to Jeff Wilson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The club did not announce the terms of the contracts, but sources said that "they are three-year deals." Daniels said that continuity is a "strength of a good organization." The concept of "keeping him and Levine together will trickle down throughout the organization" after Assistant GM A.J. Preller and Senior Special Assistant Don Welke joined the Padres over the summer. Levine has "taken on more responsibility" in the months since Preller was named Padres GM and "left vacant his duty of overseeing the Rangers’ operation in Latin America." Levine has "stepped in, ably assisted" by Senior Dir of Minor League Operations Mike Daly. The Rangers "chose not to join the growing number of teams who have given the GM title to an assistant while the GM takes on a new title while retaining the same responsibilities." But Daniels said that Levine’s commitment is "so steadfast to the Rangers that there is no need to try to, in essence, entice him to stay by giving him the GM title" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/15). ESPN DALLAS' Calvin Watkins noted like Daniels, Levine is "highly regarded in baseball circles." Levine was a candidate for the D-Backs' GM job this offseason "before backing out." Daniels said that Levine will "become a GM one day, whether it be with the Rangers or another franchise" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 11/14).
KEEPING THE FAITH: In Dallas, Evan Grant wrote the extensions show ownership’s "desire to keep stability throughout the organization." Grant: "In a business rife with job volatility, it gives the Rangers unprecedented stability." Despite the departures of Nolan Ryan and Preller in recent years, the group has "been together longer than The Beatles." Daniels, currently sixth among MLB GMs in tenure with his club, will be "entering his 10th season with the Rangers." Levine has "been with him since his first month on the job." Daniels will become the "longest-sitting GM in the franchise’s history, eclipsing Tom Grieve, who ran the club for 10 seasons from 1985-94" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/15). Grant wrote it gives the management team "a vote of confidence from ownership that 2014′s 95-loss season has not shaken the belief in the group." Daniels said that the extensions had been discussed "as far back as a year ago" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/14)).
