Why Did The Rangers Fire Chris Woodward After Giving Him a Contract Extension?

I am at a bit of a loss as to why the Texas Rangers fired manager Chris Woodward today. The main reason that I am perplexed is because in November 2021 the Rangers gave him a contract extension through the 2023 season with an option for 2024. 

If the Rangers saw fit to fire Woodward today then why bother giving him the extension in the first place? I'm sure former Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo is asking much the same question after being given an extension in spring training only to be fired last month while holding one of the three AL Wild Card berths. Toronto still holds one of the three AL Wild Card berths. But after winning 12 of their first 15 games under interim manager John Schneider, the Jays are 4-8 so far in August. 

The Rangers did add some firepower in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager as well as adding top pitcher Jon Gray in the offseason. But in a division dominated by the Houston Astros, contending was going to be a tall order. Texas did get to the .500 mark on Memorial Day Weekend after going 17-10 in May. However, since July 1st, the Rangers are 15-25 though they just took two out of three games from division rival Seattle Mariners who currently occupy one of the three AL Wild Card berths.

Did Woodward lose control of the clubhouse as Montoyo evidently did in Toronto? There aren't any indications thus far. It is true the Rangers have not had a winning season in Woodward's tenure which began in 2019. But then it goes back to the original question. Why fire someone whom you have granted a contract extension? If this continues to happen then it will tell managers their job security is truly a mirage. 

Third base coach Tony Beasley has been named the Rangers interim manager for the remainder of the season. Beasley has been on the Rangers coaching staff since 2015 when Jeff Banister was managing the club. He has also coached at the big league level with the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates and been a minor league manager in both organizations. Beasley also spent nearly a decade as a minor league player with the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. He is a baseball lifer who is getting his moment in the sun. Whether he'll get the chance beyond 2022 very much remains to be seen.