Jim Leyland's baseball career has come full circle.
The Detroit Tigers hired Leyland yesterday as their manager to replace Alan Trammell, fired a day earlier after three seasons.
The 60-year-old Leyland won a World Series championship with the Florida Marlins in 1997, and has not managed since 1999 with Colorado. He was a two-time NL Manager of the Year with Pittsburgh, where he won three division titles.
"That passion that Jim Leyland has had throughout his career is back within him to manage," Tigers President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. "The decision to name one of the top managers in the game of baseball in recent time, to bring him back to this organization, is a very big day for our franchise."
Leyland's first 18 years in professional baseball were in the Tigers' farm system – six as a catcher, one as a coach and 11 as a manager.
He was beaten out for Philadelphia's managerial job by Charlie Manuel last winter. Leyland, a two-time NL Manager of the Year with the Pirates, has said he wanted to manage again close to his Pittsburgh home, which is about a five-hour drive from Detroit.
GM Hart steps down
John Hart stepped down 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.
Tracy to Pirates?
Former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy appears to be the front-runner for the Pittsburgh Pirates job that opened last month when Lloyd McClendon was fired during his fifth consecutive losing season. Tracy and Pirates GM Dave Littlefield have ties dating to their days together in the Montreal Expos organization.
Around the horn
ROCKIES: Exercised their option on outfielder Matt Holliday for next season and declined their option on catcher Todd Greene.
INDIANS: GM Mark Shapiro said the Indians will offer a multiyear contract to Kevin Millwood.
RANGERS: Injured reliever Carlos Almanzar was suspended for the first 10 days of next season for violating baseball's steroids policy.
