Rangers GM Daniels gets contract extension
The Texas Rangers have given Jon Daniels, their general manager since 2005, a multiyear contract extension at a time when the team is focused on developing young players at the big-league level.
Texas missed the playoffs last season and is 27-38 after losing to Houston on Thursday night. Still, the Rangers have made their only two World Series appearances during Daniels’ 13 seasons as GM, and won four AL West titles.
“There is a definite sense of urgency, not for a quick fix by any stretch ... but a sense of urgency in everything that we do to make progress, to put building blocks in place and keep going,” Daniels said.
Daniels’ contract had been scheduled to expire at the end of this season. He is also the team’s president of baseball operations.
Only the Yankees’ Brian Cashman, who has been in his job since 1998, has a longer tenure among current general managers. Daniels, 41, is already the longest-tenured GM in Rangers history.
Abad suspended: Former A’s pitcher Fernando Abad, an eight-year major-league veteran who ended last season with Boston, has been suspended 80 games under baseball’s minorleague drug program following a positive test for the steroid Stanozolol.
In addition, Chicago Cubs pitcher David Garner was banned for 100 games following a third violation for a drug of abuse. Garner, on the roster of Triple-A Iowa, was suspended for 50 games March 23 after his second violation for a drug of abuse.
Abad was 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 48 games with the Red Sox last year, became a free agent, agreed to a minor-league contract with Philadelphia and was released March 21. He is 8-27 with a 3.65 ERA with Houston (2010-12), Washington (2013), Oakland (2014-15), Minnesota (2016) and the Red Sox (2016-17).
Briefly: Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery underwent Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him until the second half of next season or possibly 2020. Montgomery, 25, was 2-0 with a 3.62 ERA in six starts after going 9-7 with a 3.88 ERA in 29 starts as a rookie last season . ... Tampa Bay designated infielder Brad Miller for assignment to clear a roster spot for first baseman/ outfielder Jake Bauers. Miller, 28, hit .256 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 48 games this season but struggled defensively at first base . ... Houston’s Carlos Correa says nothing abnormal appeared during an MRI exam Thursday, a day after he came out of a game early because of discomfort in his right side. The shortstop wasn’t in the lineup Thursday night against Texas . ... The White Sox promoted reliever Xavier Cedeño from the minors and sent reliever Aaron Bummer to Triple-A Charlotte . ... Dodgers reliever Tony Cingrani was placed on the DL with a shoulder injury and reliever Pedro Baez was recalled from the minors.