ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are parting ways with co-pitching coach Doug Mathis following the 2022 season, in which the club finished 68-94.

Other pitching coach Brendan Sagara has been offered the opportunity to remain with the organization in a different role, likely on the Minor League or player development side.

Mathis and Sagara were named co-pitching coaches in October 2020, though Mathis joined the organization as a bullpen coach in January of that same year. Sagara was previously hired as the pitching coach for the Nashville Sounds in ‘20 when they were the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate. When the Minor League season was canceled due to the pandemic, he worked as the special assistant for player development at the alternate training site. 

“We're not where we need to be in terms of being a championship-caliber club,” said general manager Chris Young. “As a pitching staff, I think we have a ways to go there. I think that this organization can and should be known for our pitching development. I think these moves are necessary for us to achieve that.”

The Rangers finished 22nd in MLB with a 4.22 team ERA this season, only a slight improvement from 23rd (4.79 ERA) in 2021.

The staff in 2022 was largely carried by American League All-Star Martín Pérez, who had a career year with a 2.89 ERA, and Jon Gray, who posted a 3.96 ERA despite struggling with injuries. No other Rangers starter had an ERA under 4.00.

The Rangers also finished 15-35 in one-run games in 2022, largely due to struggles by the bullpen down the stretch. Texas relievers ranked 12th in MLB in ERA (3.72) and ninth-worst in BB/9 (3.70). 

“I think, just in general, a bullpen's success is as good as their starting rotation and vice versa,” Young said. “I think they're all interconnected and dependent on each other. When you have a very solid bullpen, you have ways of shortening a game, and it puts less pressure on your starters. Likewise, when you have starters that go deep in the game, that puts less pressure on the ‘pen. So it's pretty interconnected. We want to be good at both.” 

Young added that the Rangers would be open-minded and creative about building the pitching staff going into 2023, including the hiring of a new pitching coach. 

When asked about the overhaul of pitching throughout the organization, Young emphasized that it begins and ends with player development and producing quality pitching from top to bottom in the farm system, as well as at the Major League level. 

“Ultimately, it's going to lie in how well we develop our own and get really good, young Major League pitchers that are daily ready and contributing members to a championship team,” Young said. “That's ultimately what the best organizations are able to do. I'm confident in our PD group, our pitching department, and confident we will make the right hires to help get these guys and help them realize their full potential. It's a must for us as an organization, and we're committed to doing it.”

First-base coach Josh Johnson -- who replaced Tony Beasley when he became the interim manager -- will return to an on-the-field Minor League player development position that is to be determined. Johnson began the year as a coach at Triple-A Round Rock.

The remaining members of the coaching staff -- Beasley, third-base coach Corey Ragsdale, catching coordinator Bobby Wilson, offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and hitting coaches Tim Hyers and Seth Conner -- have been offered the opportunity to return to the Major League staff with roles to be determined as the Rangers complete their managerial search.

Beasley will also continue to go through the interview process and remain in contention to be the Rangers’ full-time manager. He is expected to remain with the club if he is not chosen.