Young ready to take the reins in Texas

ARLINGTON -- When Chris Young was hired to be the Rangers' general manager in December 2020, he did so with the understanding that it would be a partnership with president of baseball operations Jon Daniels.

On Wednesday morning, that partnership came to an abrupt end when majority owner Ray Davis first informed Daniels, and then Young, that the club would not be renewing Daniels’ contract at the end of the season and he would be relieved of his duties, effective immediately.

Young inherits all of Daniels’ duties, including oversight of all aspects of the Rangers’ baseball operations department, but acknowledged he was unaware that Davis was planning to dismiss Daniels.

“I've gotten a ton of texts and emails and phone calls and I take it as an outpouring of support and love from so many people,” Young said. “I'm grateful for that. But yeah, it's an odd situation in terms of -- I don't feel like celebrating, so to speak … Wednesday obviously, we came to work, focused on moving forward and everything transpired the way it did.

“It's just been kind of recollecting our thoughts, re-centering our focus as a group and honoring JD appropriately. But it’s also been getting our ducks in a row in terms of the next steps and what we need to finish out this week, this month, this season and prepare to best position ourselves going into this offseason.”

Young was open about how the move and the shock he's felt over the past 24 hours have affected him, while also noting both he and Daniels were open and aware that his contract was up at the end of the season and it was a possibility he'd depart the organization, whether it was on his own terms or on ownership’s.

“JD is a great friend, he's been a tremendous partner and mentor,” Young said. “There's been a lot of emotions and tears. I love him and he was a big part of why I came here. …. No, this was not planned. It wasn't my ambition. My ambition is to win championships with a great group of people that we have.”

Now Young, less than two full years into his first front office role, will get the chance to be the sole leader of the Rangers in hopes of leading the club to its first World Series title. In the words of a veteran general manager, Young said, “Nobody is ever truly ready for this job.” But ready or not, it’s his alone now, and he’ll have the opportunity to see through the rebuild that Daniels started.

Despite the loss of Daniels, Young emphasized that the Rangers will “stay the course” going forward to keep the club on track for contention in 2023.

“I’m humble enough to know that this is an immense job,” Young said. “Nobody ever has it mastered. I don't think I should feel that I do… JD has been a tremendous mentor, friend, teammate. But that partnership extended beyond just me and JD.

"We have a tremendous team. We've got great people and we're doing great things. We have a vision and we're going to continue that vision so it doesn't change. We're going to continue on, and it's an opportunity for all of us to step up and continue to progress and improve.”