Detroit Tigers: 5 Managerial Candidates for 2016

May 28, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics defensive consultant Ron Washington throws during batting practice before the game against the New York Yankees at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Washington

Before Ron Washington arrived, the Texas Rangers were a pretty pathetic organization with just 16 winning seasons out of 34 since their relocation to North Texas from Washington, D.C. in 1972. They had never won a playoff series, going 1-9 all-time in three ALDS series losses to the powerful 1990’s New York Yankees.

Washington began building a nice team and winning playoff games and series, as Detroit Tigers fans painfully remember from 2011.

He took them to the World Series two straight years and was just one strike away from winning it all before the St. Louis Cardinals staged a miracle in 2011.

Washington is fiery, so he occasionally rubs some players the wrong way–as was in the rumor that he did not get along well with former Rangers’ star Mark Teixeira, but by and large players love his passion and emotion and love playing for him.

The drawback to Washington appear to be his personal demons. Washington tested positive for cocaine in 2009, though he self-reported himself and admitted remorse over the incident. He also had an affair and resigned from the Rangers near the end of last season to deal with the family issue.

Again, there are drawbacks with every managerial candidate, but after time away from the game (Washington is currently a fielding instructor with the Oakland A’s organization), he could be ready to give it another go in 2016.

Washington has the most victories in Texas Rangers’ history.

Next: Wally Backman