Rangers exercise Banister's 2019 option

The Texas Rangers have exercised the contract option of Jeff Banister, keeping the 53-year-old manager at the helm through the 2019 season.

Banister has been the Rangers' skipper for three seasons now and owns a 261-225 record since taking the job, including back-to-back AL West titles in 2015 and 2016.

Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, the Rangers picked up Banister's option to retain his services through the 2018 season and added a team option for 2019.

This year though, it appears Banister was not given an additional option. The Rangers finished third in the AL West with 78 wins, in a season when 85 wins was enough for the Minnesota Twins to take the second wild-card spot.