5:35pm: In a column at the Dallas Morning News, Grant reports that the plan would be for Ecker to focus on hitting while Urueta takes over the bench coach job.
4:55pm: The Rangers have hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior advisor to president of baseball operations Chris Young, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News on X. Grant adds that Luis Urueta, who was bench coach during Schumaker’s tenure in Miami, is expected to take up that job with the Rangers.
It’s unclear how this will impact Donnie Ecker, as he has been the bench coach in Texas and there’s been nothing to indicate he’s leaving the club. Will Venable was just hired to manage the White Sox after previously being associate manager of the Rangers, so perhaps Urueta will take over some of Venable’s duties with Ecker’s title changing.
Schumaker was hired to manage the Marlins ahead of the 2023 season. His first campaign at the helm was a successful one, as the Fish defied the odds to go 84-78 and squeak into the postseason, their first appearance in the playoffs in a full season in 20 years. Schumaker earned National League Manager of the Year honors on the heels of that.
Despite the cinderella season, the Marlins decided to shake up their front office afterwards, parting ways with general manager Kim Ng and hiring Peter Bendix as president of baseball operations. Schumaker was reportedly displeased with the shift in direction, which led the Marlins to void their 2025 club option with him.
That reporting came out in April and it was expected all throughout the 2024 campaign that he would leave Miami, which is what eventually came to pass. He was speculated as a managerial fit for other clubs and did eventually get consideration for openings once the offseason rolled around. Two clubs other than the Marlins had dugout vacancies this winter, the Reds and the White Sox. Schumaker was connected to both gigs but the Reds went with Terry Francona and the Sox with Venable.
Perhaps Schumaker will return to being a skipper someday, but he will join the Rangers organization for now. It’s unclear if this is part of some long-term pivot away from the dugout to the front office or perhaps just a placeholder job. If Schumaker intends to manage again in the future, this job is perhaps a more attractive alternative than just sitting on his hands for a year. He can share some of his expertise with the Rangers while absorbing some of theirs and perhaps be ready to pursue managerial jobs next winter.
It’s also possible that his next managerial opening could be in Arlington. Many people considered Venable to be a sort of manager-in-waiting since current skipper Bruce Bochy is turning 70 years old in April. Venable has now moved on but the club will naturally want to be prepared for the possibility of Bochy deciding to retire. If that comes to pass in the next year or two, perhaps Schumaker can simply slide into that role, already being familiar with some of the inner workings of the organization.
As for Urueta, he spent the past two years working under Schumaker in Miami. It was reported last month that the Marlins would not be retaining any of their coaching staff, presumably letting Schumaker’s eventual replacement have some say over how their next staff would be composed. Urueta got some consideration for the managerial gig in Miami, which is still open, but it now seems he will be heading to Texas with Schumaker.
As mentioned, the Rangers have had both Ecker and Venable on the coaching staff in recent years. Ecker was hired as bench coach and offensive coordinator going into 2022 and Venable was hired as associate manager going into 2023. With Venable leaving and Urueta coming in as bench coach, it’s unclear how this will impact Ecker. Perhaps Ecker could shift into Venable’s role, though that’s mere speculation at this point. More details will surely emerge in the days to come.
He’s already preplanning his coaching staff for when he takes over.
That’s what I was thinking although what if Boch doesn’t want to retire?
Sounds like a Mike Shildt situation…
Hoping for Will Venable to help guide my White Sox back to respectability.
Grady Sizemore looked like a deer in headlights at every post game press conference and I’m glad that he wasn’t selected to manage the team in 2025.
– Carl Winslow
Congratulations Skip!
Well that was a nice hop, jump, and Skip to a great organization from a lousy organization.
Well played, Mr. Schumaker.
Very interesting. Everyone thought Venable was brought in to be the manager in waiting. He declined interviews last year but jumped at the White Sox job? It’s as if he fell out of favor and knew it.
I can’t imagine them bringing in Schumaker and Urueta unless that’s the plan for 2026.
This is the last year of Bochy’s contract right ?
I don’t know how many years Bochy signed for. Was it ever reported?
It makes too much sense for Skip to be Bochy’s heir apparent. I would be surprised if Boch stays after his current contract expires.
All this movement is done now because Coach Bochy has indicated to club his intentions on how much longer he wants to be manager.
Wish Skip had this role in St. L, then he could take over for Marmol when he goes. And he will go soon. Skip was born to manage the St.Louis Cardinals.
He would be the next la Russa over there
Rangers going nanager by committee
He’s gonna manager the rangers by 2027
Roger Beshens taught Gm assistant Brandon McCarthy the football slider in May 2018, and now that he also taught Brent Strom in May with the Dbacks, he may in the mix. Just saw the pictures on RB’s Facebook.