Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister is a finalist for the Texas Rangers' vacant managing job, the Rangers announced Tuesday. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the goal is to have a new manager in place by the start of the World Series.
“I'm really not going to comment on anything other than … it's true,” Banister told the Tribune-Review on Tuesday. “It's a great group of guys, solid baseball men. I've enjoyed the conversations and the whole process. They've treated me with class.”
The other finalists are Rangers interim manager Tim Bogar and Cleveland Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash.
The Rangers are likely interested in Banister in part because he has been with a Pirates organization that has done an excellent job blending traditional baseball approaches with data-driven concepts from the front office.
It's a dream opportunity for Banister, 49, who is a Texas native and makes his offseason home in Houston.
“To be back home and in the state of Texas, it would be a tremendous opportunity,” Banister said. “It's a tremendous opportunity just to be considered for a position like this.”
Banister has spent his entire professional career with the Pirates, just completing his 29th year with the organization that drafted him in the 25th round of the 1986 draft. He had one at bat in the majors, recording a single in 1991. He began his coaching career in 1993 and worked his way up through the organization, being named as the club's bench coach in 2010.
Banister was also involved in the Houston Astros' managerial search earlier this offseason.
Travis Sawchik is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at [email protected] or via Twitter @Sawchik_Trib.
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I want him back, but wish him the best.
