I'm not sold on Jung either, but he plays plus defense and has shown ability at the plate. He's the guy I think about the most when I talk about the approach at the plate. When he's hitting up the middle or going the other way, he's at his best. When he's trying to pull the ball, he starts chasing and looks awful. He just seems like a guy that can start tearing it up if the right guy gets in his ear. Get his walks up and everything else would follow. I guess he just seems like the type of player that if you trade, he gets a change of scenery somewhere and becomes an All-Star again. I would see how he does in the offseason with taking on the approach given to him by the new staff, watch if it translates over to spring training at bats and then see where we are.

And Freeman is everything that this roster has been lacking in terms of energy and personality. Add in the fact that he actually chokes up on the bat with two strikes and plays all over the field and that is a dude I want on my roster.

All I know is that you better be careful how you pronounce Imanaga. One wrong vowel sound and you're up to your eyeballs in trouble.

SKIP SCHUMAKER NAMED MANAGER OF THE TEXAS RANGERS
The 2023 National League Manager of the Year returns to the dugout on four-year deal with Texas

Arlington, Texas The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has named Skip Schumaker as its new manager. Schumaker (pronounced SHOE-mah-ker) has agreed to a four-year contract covering the 2026-29 seasons. Plans for an introductory press conference are expected to be announced in the coming days.

"We are thrilled to announce this promotion and have Skip leading this club in the dugout," said Rangers President of Baseball Operations Chris Young. "Over his past year as a senior advisor to our baseball operations group, Skip has proven to be driven, passionate and thorough in everything he does. He has a winning spirit and energy, and we are fortunate that someone so highly regarded in the industry has agreed to become our manager.

"We have enjoyed getting to know Skip and his family since he joined the organization last year, and we look forward to welcoming his wife Lindsey and the entire Schumaker family to the Metroplex."

The 45-year-old Schumaker becomes the 21st full-time manager in Rangers history. He served the past year as Senior Advisor, Baseball Operations after joining the Rangers in November 2024. He spent the previous two seasons (2023-24) as the manager of the Miami Marlins. He was selected 2023 National League Manager of the Year after leading the Fish to an 84-78 record and just the fourth postseason appearance in club history. Schumaker became just the 10th individual in history to be named manager of the year in his rookie campaign as a manager. The Marlins lost both games in the 2023 National League Wild Card series at Philadelphia.

"I am honored and excited for this opportunity to manage the Rangers," said Schumaker. "While I attained a good understanding of the organization through my front office role this past season, the conversations with Chris Young, Ross Fenstermaker, and others this week have only intensified my interest in this opportunity. I can't wait to begin the work for 2026."

Prior to his two-year stint in Miami, Schumaker appeared on the Major League coaching staffs for St. Louis (2022 Bench Coach) and San Diego (2020-21 Associate Manager; 2018-19 First Base Coach). From 2016-17, he served as an Assistant to Baseball Operations and Player Development for the Padres.

An 11-year Major League veteran as a player, Schumaker compiled a career .278 batting average (905-3252) with 28 home runs and 284 RBI over 1149 games spanning stints with St. Louis (2005-12), Los Angeles-NL (2013), and Cincinnati (2014-15). He played in 30 postseason games with the Cardinals (2009, 2011-12) and Dodgers (2013). The Torrance, California native was originally selected by St. Louis in the 5th round of the 2001 MLB Draft from the University of California-Santa Barbara.

As a National League player for his entire career, Schumaker never faced the Rangers nor played in Arlington in the regular season. He was the Marlins manager for 6 games against the Rangers in 2023-24, with Texas going 5-1 in those contests, including 3-0 in Schumaker's lone visit to Globe Life Field from August 4-6, 2023.

Schumaker and his wife, Lindsey, have a son, Brody, and a daughter, Presley, and make their off-season home in Orange County, California. Brody is a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School (CA) and is committed to play collegiate baseball at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Brody was part of the Team USA squad that won the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup championship last month in Okinawa, Japan.

RANGERS

Seems like a good move. Past success and already knows the players.

Feel good. He's been part of winning organizations and he has a year under his belt with the Rangers. Got to imagine it should be a smooth transition. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the staff shakes out