Daniels, 28, to be baseball's youngest GM

[Pinstripe_Pride]

ARLINGTON, Texas -- John Hart stepped down Tuesday as general manager of the Texas Rangers, clearing the way for 28-year-old Jon Daniels to become the youngest GM in major league history..

 

Hart's resignation came two days after the Rangers finished 79-83, their third losing season in four years under Hart and their fifth since winning their last AL West title in 1999.

 

Hart, whose teams won six division titles in his last seven years in Cleveland ending in 2001, will be replaced by assistant general manager Jon Daniels, who will become the youngest general manager in baseball at 28. Hart will remain a team consultant, the team said in a news release.

 

"John has brought a new level of professionalism to the Texas Rangers over the last four years," owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. "During his tenure the organization has improved on the field at the major-league level while enhancing the minor-league system."

 

The Rangers contended just once during Hart's Texas tenure, finishing 89-73, third in the AL West but just three games out of first in 2004.

 

Hart's stint with the Rangers started slowly. Less than two months into the job, he signed free agent pitcher Chan Ho Park to a five-year, $65 million contract, and Park became one of the biggest busts in franchise history. Park was traded to San Diego this season after making just 68 starts over 3? injury-plagued seasons.

 

The Park signing symbolized the difficulty Hart had building a pitching staff in Texas. Although the Rangers rode a surprising bullpen to their best team ERA in more than a decade last year, the pitching staff struggled again in 2005.

 

One of Hart's last official acts as GM was notifying Kenny Rogers that the team would not bring the 40-year-old left-hander back next season.

 

Hart's biggest move was the trade of Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for Alfonso Soriano just before the start of spring training in 2004. Without Rodriguez, the Rangers' offense surged behind the new core of the team -- young infielders Michael Young, Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira. All were acquired before Hart's arrival.

 

Hart also brought in manager Buck Showalter, the AL manager of the year last season.

 

Daniels joined the Rangers operations department in 2002 and was promoted to assistant general manager two years later.

 

"I'm confident in his abilities and for the continued growth of the organization," Hicks said.

 

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