Los Angeles Dodgers third base and infield coach Chris Woodward has been in the running for managerial openings over the last couple offseasons, most notably the New York Yankees last year.
After another successful season with the Dodgers, Woodward earned an interview for the Texas Rangers managerial opening, and he was said to have impressed them to the point where he was considered to be the frontrunner.
The Rangers took it a step further on Friday night as according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, they have ended their managerial search by hiring Woodward:
LA #Dodgers 3B coach Chris Woodward has been hired to be the next manager of the Texas #Rangers
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 3, 2018
Woodward had a 12-year Major League career that spanned from 1999-2011 with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.
After retiring in 2012, Woodward began his coaching career as a Minor League infield coordinator with the Mariners. He then became a coach on the Mariners’ big league staff in 2014 before joining the Dodgers organization prior to the 2016 season when Dave Roberts was named manager.
Several of the Dodgers’ infielders over the past few years have credited Woodward for their defensive improvements, so he will surely be missed for that reason.
It is unclear whether any other Dodgers coaches will be leaving the organization, although president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi said they were all invited back for the 2019 season.
