ARLINGTON, Texas -- With less than a month before pitchers and catchers report for spring training, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington does not have a contract beyond the 2014 season.
That doesn't mean he won't have one at some point. But as of now, he doesn't have an extension and does not appear concerned by it.
"I'm not worried about that," Washington said after working with some of the club's younger infielders at a week-long winter camp at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. "That will take care of itself."
General manager Jon Daniels said he didn't want to comment on the contracts of any of the club's employees, including the manager. But he expressed confidence in Washington.
"He's been a huge part of what we've done here," Daniels said. "It's been a partnership from Day 1 and I expect that to continue going forward. We'll handle contracts and personal matters privately."
Daniels said shortly after the season that he would talk to ownership about an extension for Washington, but has declined to talk about it much since then. He has constantly voiced support for Washington when asked.
Daniels said he hasn't thought about how the team might react should the manager not have job security past 2014.
"I don't really look at it that way," Daniels said. "We know what he's about and vice versa. I'm really not thinking about it in those terms."
Daniels hired Washington prior to the 2007 season, one year after becoming Texas' GM. The skipper has helped mold a young nucleus into a versatile team that has contended for division titles the past four seasons, winning the AL West in 2010 and '11. The franchise advanced to the World Series both of those years. But the past two seasons, the club hasn't been able to get into the ALDS, falling to Baltimore in the AL wild-card game in 2012 and losing in Game 163 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013.