Rangers GM Hart resigns; young gun takes over

ARLINGTON, Texas -- John Hart stepped down Tuesday as general manager of the Texas Rangers, clearing the way for 28-year-old Jon Daniels to become the youngest GM in major-league history.

Hart's resignation came two days after the Rangers finished 79-83, their third losing season in four years under Hart and their fifth since winning their last AL West title in 1999.

Hart -- whose teams won six division titles and twice went to the World Series in his last seven years in Cleveland, ending in 2001 -- will be replaced by Daniels, who at 28 years, 41 days, is about 10 months younger than Theo Epstein was when he became Boston's GM on Nov. 25, 2002. Daniels was promoted from assistant GM and Hart will remain a team consultant.

"He's got a truly brilliant mind. He's a walking baseball encyclopedia," Texas owner Tom Hicks said of Daniels. "I think his youth is an asset to us. ... I did my first leveraged buyout when I was about that age. Young people can kind of do things in this life."

Daniels joined the Rangers operations department in 2002 and was promoted to assistant general manager two years later. A Cornell University graduate, he worked under GM Dan O'Dowd in Colorado in 2001.

GM Jon Daniels is 'a walking baseball encyclopedia,' the Texas owner says. (AP)

Hart's biggest move with the Rangers was the trade of Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for Alfonso Soriano just before the start of spring training in 2004. Without Rodriguez, the Rangers offense surged behind the new core of the team -- young infielders Michael Young, Hank Blalock and Mark Teixeira. All were acquired before Hart's arrival, though he signed Young and Blalock to contract extensions.

The Rangers contended just once during Hart's tenure, finishing 89-73, third in the AL West but just three games out of first in 2004.

"I feel, no question, it's on the right track. I also feel that there's a disappointment that it didn't work out," Hart said. "It's a disappointment I have to carry with me."

Hart's stint with the Rangers started slowly. Less than two months into the job, he signed free agent pitcher Chan Ho Park to a five-year, $65 million contract, and Park became one of the biggest busts in franchise history. Park was traded to San Diego this season after making just 68 starts over 3½ injury-plagued seasons.

The signing of Park symbolized the difficulty Hart had building a pitching staff in Texas. Although the Rangers rode a surprising bullpen to their best team ERA in more than a decade last year, the pitching staff struggled again in 2005.

One of his last official acts as GM was notifying Kenny Rogers that the team would not bring the 40-year-old left-hander back next season.

Hart also brought in manager Buck Showalter, the AL manager of the year last season.