Pirates add ex-Rangers manager Banister to front office

[January 07, 2019]  The Pittsburgh Pirates hired former Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister as a special assistant in the baseball operations department, the team announced Sunday.

Banister was a member of the Pirates' organization for 29 seasons before becoming manager of the Rangers following the 2014 season.

The 54-year-old Banister went 325-313 as the Texas manager and won American League West titles in 2015 and 2016. Banister was the 2015 AL Manager of the Year.

Banister was 64-88 last season when he was fired by the Rangers with 10 games remaining. Texas finished 67-95.

Banister was the Pirates' bench coach for four-plus seasons before becoming Texas' skipper.

"Jeff Banister returns to the Pirates as a valuable resource, instructor and advisor for our front office, Major League team and player development system," Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and a passion for the Pirates back to the organization. We are thrilled to add a quality person and baseball man to help an organization that he loves get better."

The hiring of Banister comes one day after Pittsburgh tabbed former infielder David Eckstein to a similar role. Eckstein, 43, was World Series MVP in 2006 when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers.

--Field Level Media

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