Around The Horn: Ron Washington to Manage Angels, Harper Moving To 1st And More

Ron Washington, former Texas manager and more recently third base coach with Atlanta, is headed to Southern California with a two-year deal as manager of the Angels. Washington, who turns 72 in April, will be the oldest current manager in the majors

Washington previously managed the Texas Rangers for eight seasons (2007-2014), leading them to four consecutive 90-plus win season, three playoff berths, and the first two pennants in Ranger history. He compiled a .521 winning percentage in eight season.

He resigned with 22 games remaining in the 2014 campaign due to “an off-field personal matter.,” which turned out to be an alleged sexual assault on a report, though Washington late said it was due to an extramarital affair.

.

HARPER SET AT FIRST

Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski says Bryce Harper will remain the team’s first baseman. That would seem to point to the fact that Rhys Hoskins, who is limited to first base and DH, returning to the Phillies.

Harper had minimal time at first base until last year when he returned from Tommy John surgery in early May, and after initially serving in a DH role in early May worked his way into growing playing time at first base.

PETERSON WON’T OPEN THE SEASON

After undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair the labrum in his left hip, left-handed pitcher David Peterson won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets before May, at the earliest. It is most likely, however, that Peterson most likely will be out at least until mid-season.

COACHING ADDITIONS

— Carlos Febles has joined the Toronto Blue Jays as their third base coach, a role Febles held with the Red Sox since 2018.

— White Sox will have five new additions to their coaching staff — hitting coach Marcus Thames, bullpen coach Matt Wise, catching coach Drew Butera, first base coach Jason Bourgeois, and Major League coach Grady Sizemore, who will focus on outfield and baserunning work.

RUMOR MILL

— Toronto is looking to add as many as four position players. Matt Chapman, Kevin Kiermaier, White Merrifield and Brandon Belt, regulars in the lineup last year, are currently free agents.

— Blue Jays also have focused on first baseman Joey Votto, a free agent from Cincinnati, who is a natvie of Toronto.

— Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman admits the team is hoping LHP Clayton Kershaw rebounds from surgery and rejoins the Dodgers, which whom he had spent his entire career with the Dodgers, compiling a 210-92 record in 16 years.

OVERHEARD

White Sox General Manager Chris Getz on the White Sox roster:

“I don’t like our team. It’s not a well-rounded club. There are no untouchables.”