Rangers promote Preller to assistant GM

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have promoted A.J. Preller to assistant general manager and named Mike Daly as the senior director of Minor League operations, the club announced on Monday.

Preller, who had been the senior director of player personnel, will oversee the Rangers' player development and scouting departments. Daly, having served as the director of international scouting, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Rangers' farm system. He replaces Tim Purpura, who was reassigned after this past season.

"A.J. and Mike have been instrumental in this franchise's success over the last several years, especially when it has come to scouting and bringing quality players into the organization," general manager Jon Daniels said. "These promotions to more responsibilities on the player-development side are well-deserved and will make us a stronger organization, further strengthening the bonds between player development and scouting, as well as the Major and Minor Leagues."

Preller joins Thad Levine in giving the Rangers two assistant general managers under Daniels. Levine remains instrumental in contract negotiations as well as evaluating and acquiring players at the Major League level.

"Thad Levine and A.J. have been my left and right hands throughout our time together," Daniels said. "They will continue to be so, along with the rest of a strong leadership team. Mike has been directly involved in bringing much of the young talent into the organization and his familiarity with so many of our players will be a huge asset in his new position."

Preller and Daly were both are part of the Rangers' efforts in increasing the emphasis on scouting in Latin America and the Pacific Rim, leading to the acquisition of outfielder Leonys Martin, infielder Jurickson Profar and pitcher Martin Perez, among others. Preller has also been a part of the Rangers' amateur scouting for the past three years.