Editing Texas Rangers (baseball) (section)

====Making changes (2005–2009)====
[[File:Nelson Cruz.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nelson Cruz]], Rangers outfielder from 2006 to 2013]]

In 2005, the Rangers again struggled to find consistency amid controversy and injuries. [[John Hart (baseball)|John Hart]] stepped down as general manager following the 2005 season. [[Jon Daniels]] was promoted from assistant general manager to replace him. Daniels, at 28 years and one month, became the youngest general manager in major league history.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Daniels and the Rangers front office were very active in acquiring new players before and during the 2006 season. New acquisitions included [[Brad Wilkerson]], [[Adam Eaton (pitcher)|Adam Eaton]], [[Kevin Millwood]], [[Carlos Lee]], and [[Nelson Cruz]]. Despite bolstering their roster, the Rangers' 2006 season ended with a disappointing 80–82 record and a third-place finish in the AL West. Buck Showalter was dismissed as manager after the season. The team hired Oakland third base coach [[Ron Washington]] as their next manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061105&content_id=1733731|title=Rangers select Washington to manage|first=T.R.|last=Sullivan|work=MLB.com|date=November 6, 2006|access-date=May 30, 2006}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> A change at manager was the first of several moves to strengthen the team in yet another busy offseason. The team lost [[Gary Matthews, Jr.]], [[Mark DeRosa]], Carlos Lee, and Adam Eaton, but gained [[Kenny Lofton]], [[Sammy Sosa]], [[Frank Catalanotto]], and pitchers [[Éric Gagné]] and [[Brandon McCarthy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061223&content_id=1767476|title=Rangers acquire McCarthy from Sox|first=T.R.|last=Sullivan|work=MLB.com|date=December 23, 2006|access-date=May 30, 2007}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The Rangers struggled offensively early in the 2007 season, despite playing in a notoriously hitter-friendly park. A number of roster moves before the 2007 trade deadline were the beginnings of a rebuilding project headed by Jon Daniels with a focus on the acquisition and development of young players. In the coming years, more club resources would be dedicated to improving the quality of the farm system and scouting departments, most notably in Latin America and the Far East. Daniels' objective was to field a legitimately competitive team by the 2010 season.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
[[File:Josh Hamilton.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Josh Hamilton]], Rangers outfielder from 2008 to 2012]]
The Rangers began the 2008 season exceptionally well, headlined by newcomer [[Josh Hamilton]] who looked to be a threat to win the [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]], before fading off as the season wore on. During the All-Star festivities at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], Hamilton crushed a first-round home run record in the 2008 [[Home Run Derby]] with 28. Hamilton hit another four in the second round and three during the final round, for a total of 35 home runs, but lost to the Twins' [[Justin Morneau]]. Four Rangers played in the All Star Game: Hamilton, [[Ian Kinsler]], [[Milton Bradley (baseball)|Milton Bradley]], and Michael Young, who would repeat his 2006 All-Star Game feat by driving in the winning run via a sac fly.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The Rangers finished the season with yet another sub-.500 record (79–83), yet ended the season second in the AL West, the club's best finish since 1999. The 2009 season saw the Rangers soar into playoff contention for the first time since 2004. Despite injuries to Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler, the Rangers held first place in their division for long stretches of the summer before fading after September 1, losing the division to the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers finished the season at 87–75, their first winning season since 2004 and good enough for second place in the AL West. Michael Young responded to his move to third base by posting one of his best offensive seasons ever while committing just nine errors and earning a sixth-straight All-Star appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/4566/michael-young |title=Michael Young Stats – Texas Rangers – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=October 19, 1976 |access-date=August 29, 2013 |archive-date=January 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102185732/https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/4566/michael-young |url-status=live }}</ref> Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz were also named 2009 AL All-Stars.