There are old men in my family that will continually tell me not to hang out with dummies, to surround myself with smart people so that you will do smart things as well. There have been times where I have deviated from that sage wisdom, but Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels surely knows better.
The Rangers on Wednesday hired five-time All-Star Tony Fernandez to be a special assistant to Daniels.
Fernandez, a 4-time Gold Glove shortstop, played 17 seasons in the majors for the Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, Reds, Yankees, Indians and Brewers. A few words from the Rangers general manager:
"We're excited to welcome Tony to our organization," Daniels said in a statement. "His work ethic and performance on the field are matched only by his grace and commitment to the community. He'll be able to help our players in a number of ways."
Fernandez could prove to be a calming influence among many of the players on team like Josh Hamilton, as Fernandez earned several degrees in ministry school and is an ordained minister. Plus, his ability to connect with many of the hispanic players like Nelson Cruz in the clubhouse could be of great assistance to Ron Washington and Daniels.
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