Rangers' latest front office hire could be Bruce Bochy succession plan

It is never too early to start building a retirement plan, and the Texas Rangers may have just granted Bruce Bochy the perfect successor.

The Rangers made headlines earlier this week when they hired former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior advisor to president of baseball operations Chris Young. With Bochy's future beyond 2025 unknown, Schumaker will become his likely replacement. The California native's experience as a player, manager, and newly minted front office member will make him the perfect individual to potentially lead the Rangers into a new era.

It was recently reported that Texas would be open to Bochy managing beyond next season, but given the legend turns 70 this April, it is anyone's guess whether or not he would want to extend his career another year.

Schumaker was never a star player, but he was a winning player who could impact a game in a number of ways. The 44-year-old was a career .278 hitter across an 11-year career. He primarily played second base and the outfield. One could have considered him a utility player who afforded managers flexibility.

He spent the majority of his career with the Saint Louis Cardinals, and was a major part of their 2011 World Series victory. Through 11 Postseason games, the lefty earned a .381 batting average and collected four RBIs.

Rangers' latest front office hire could be Bruce Bochy succession plan

Schumaker also spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. These stops were quite different from one another. During his one season with LA, Schumaker got to be a part of a 92-win team that fell short to the Cardinals in the NLCS. But, his two years with the Reds saw him play with a club that could not crack 80 wins.

Schumaker saw the majority of possible outcomes as a player. He was with a team that won it all, one that fell short in October after a fantastic regular season, and a franchise that could not remain competitive.

He certainly brought these experiences with him as he began his coaching career. Never was this more evident then when he was named the 2023 NL Manager of the Year after leading Miami to an 84-78 record as well a Postseason appearance. The year prior, Miami only won 69 contests and looked aimless. At the very least, Schumaker was able to maximize the club's talent and lead them to respectability before managing a club that underperformed in 2024.

The MLB lifer will now take on a new challenge in the Rangers' front office. He will learn more about how the sport operates from an internal standpoint. Such a job is one that could help him become a more informed manager in the future.