The Giants are finalizing a deal to bring former Rangers and Angels manager Ron Washington on board as an infield coach, general manager Zack Minasian said during a radio appearance on KNBR 680 on Thursday.
Washington, 73, developed a reputation as an infield guru while serving as the first- and third-base coach for the A’s from 1996-2006. He managed the Rangers from 2007-14 and guided Texas to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and ‘11, though his club came up short both times, the first of which came at the hands of the Giants.
Washington returned to Oakland at the end of his eight-year run in Texas, serving as a special instructor and third-base coach for the A’s from 2015-16. He then spent seven seasons as the third-base coach for the Braves before being hired by Minasian’s older brother, Angels GM Perry Minasian, to manage in Anaheim ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Washington managed only one full season with the Angels, as he ended up being placed on medical leave on June 20 and underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery on June 30. He hoped to return for a third year with the Halos, but the club chose not to pick up his ‘26 option in October.
By joining the Giants, Washington will have a chance to return to the Bay Area and work with a talented core of infielders, which includes five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames, second baseman Casey Schmitt and first basemen Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge.
Washington’s decades of expertise should also be a boon for new Giants manager Tony Vitello, who is the first college coach to move directly to MLB skipper without previous professional coaching experience. In fact, Zack Minasian said Vitello was the one who initially mentioned Washington as a possible candidate for his coaching staff.
“I give Tony a lot of credit,” Minasian told KNBR’s Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on Thursday. “He talks about being a team and filling blind spots as well as possible. I think he recognizes his experience level at the professional ranks. He originally brought up Wash and was saying, ‘What do you think about bringing Wash in, with his experience?’ My brothers and my father have experience with Wash dating back to Texas. Obviously, Perry hired him to manage with the Angels. Not only them, but really anyone Wash comes into contact with just thinks the world of him.
“I think the energy level, the expertise, the experience, just seemed like a no-brainer as Tony continued to have conversations with Wash. We’re still in the process of finalizing it, but it’s definitely looking like it’s heading that way of him being on the staff. I just think it’s such a great fit, not only for our players, but with Wash having the Bay Area ties. I’m a big believer in staff development, and I think Wash is going to have a really big impact on our coaching staff.”
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was the first to report that Washington was close to being hired by the Giants.
