Rangers hire Mike Maddux as pitching coach

Mike Maddux was hired Monday as Texas Rangers pitching coach after spending six seasons in the same role for Milwaukee and turning down an offer to stay with the Brewers.

Maddux will oversee a Texas pitching staff that had a 5.97 ERA this season, worst in the major leagues. The Brewers, who won the NL wild card this season, had a 3.85 ERA that was the second-best in the National League and their lowest since 1992.

"Improving our pitching staff is our top priority for next season," general manager Jon Daniels said. "Mike has a proven track record at the major league level. He has both coached a staff that has been in postseason contention each of the last two years, and also helped develop young pitchers."

The Rangers also picked Andy Hawkins to be their bullpen coach. Hawkins served as interim pitching coach after Mark Connor was fired Aug. 1.

Maddux and Hawkins complete manager Ron Washington's revamped coaching staff for the 2009 season. Texas previously hired former Oakland Athletics manager Jackie Moore as bench coach and Dave Anderson as third base coach.

Connor and bullpen coach Dom Chiti were fired in August, and the team said right after the season that bench coach Art Howe and third base coach Matt Walbeck would not return.

First base coach Gary Pettis and longtime hitting instructor Rudy Jaramillo remain on the staff.

Maddux pitched in the big leagues from 1986-2000, going 39-37 with a 4.05 ERA. His brother, Greg, has won 355 games and four Cy Young Awards.

Milwaukee offered Maddux a multiyear deal to stay as pitching coach for new manager Ken Macha. But Maddux also had connections with the Rangers.

Before going to Milwaukee, Maddux was the pitching coach at Double-A Round Rock from 2000-02. That Round Rock team was owned by Nolan Ryan, now the Rangers president, and managed by Moore, the new Texas bench coach.