After an off-season where he was linked to the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs managerial positions, Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is likely to return to Arlington next season.
With the Cubs reportedly leaning towards hiring Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dave Sveum, Maddux has withdrawn his name from consideration.
Since being hired before the 2009 season, Maddux has done a tremendous job with the Rangers pitching staff. The team's ERA has improved in each of the last three years, while Maddux has helped to implement CEO Nolan Ryan's plan to increase the workload of starting pitchers throughout the organization.
He's been an invaluable asset to first-time manager Ron Washington, helping to manage the bullpen in the Rangers two consecutive trips to the World Series.
Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment was the 2011 regular season, when he was able to get at least 169 innings of reliable, consistent work out of a converted reliever (Alexi Ogando) and two young pitchers (Derek Holland and Matt Harrison) while keeping all three healthy.
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