As the MLB playoff picture comes into focus in the second to last month of the regular season, organizations no where near to contending must make some big decisions. For the hapless Detroit Tigers, that decision was firing general manager Al Avila. For the struggling Texas Rangers, that decision was axing manager Chris Woodward.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was one of the first to break the news that Woodward, who served as the Dodgers third base coach from 2016-2018, was cut loose from the Rangers.
Woodward, who was hired to run the show in Texas prior to the 2019 season, had recently signed an extension through 2023 that included an option for 2024 so the move is a bit of a surprise.