Major league front offices are about to enter their next hiring wave, and Ross Fenstermaker’s name is one to watch.
The Astros already moved on from GM Dana Brown in August, and the Mets are reportedly set to bring in former Twins boss Derek Falvey as GM under president of baseball operations David Stearns. That kind of turnover could keep rolling, and if MLB and the MLB Players’ Association can’t get a new collective bargaining agreement done by Dec. 1, this hiring cycle won’t be slowed by a work stoppage.
For the Rangers, Chris Young is secure in his role as president of baseball operations. Fenstermaker, though, may be the more interesting piece.
In a recent Fansided piece, Robert Murray spoke with player agents about the looming labor situation and asked a separate question: “Which GM and manager would agents choose to run their team?”
Some agents leaned toward established names such as Padres president of baseball operations AJ Preller, who once worked for Texas. One even suggested a three-person setup with Fenstermaker as the POBO, Arizona special assistant Jason McLeod as GM and Brewers manager Pat Murphy in the dugout.
“I believe this blend gives an organization forward-thinking leaders that have demonstrated success in this new age of identifying the best talent while still blending the ability to scout and development,” the scout said under condition of anonymity.
That doesn’t mean Fenstermaker is on the move. But it does say something that agents would point to him as part of an ideal leadership group. And in baseball, that kind of reputation tends to travel fast.
Fenstermaker became the Rangers’ GM in November of 2024 after serving as assistant GM for player development and international relations. His path through the organization has stretched across 17 years, with stops in pro and international scouting, international crosschecking and pro scouting.
That background makes him a natural fit for front-office interest. He has worked every layer of talent evaluation, helped handle the international side of the business and, according to the source, gets some credit for landing top prospect Sebastian Walcott. With more front-office openings expected to surface next week as teams start lining up for next season, Fenstermaker looks like someone who could draw a look if clubs want a fresh voice upstairs.
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