ARLINGTON — The Rangers have found the perfect post-playing career for Elvis Andrus.
Talking.
He was a Hall of Famer at it as a player.
Andrus, known as much for his engaging personality as a player as he was for his nifty baserunning and fielding, will join the new team-owned Rangers Sports Network as an occasional pre- and post-game analyst for 2025, the club announced Wednesday. Andrus, who officially retired as a Ranger last September after a 15-year playing career, is expected to do at least 20 games this season.
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“There’s not a job Elvis is better suited for,” former teammate and fellow broadcast team member David Murphy said with a laugh. “He’s going to transition just fine. He knows the game and he obviously knows how to talk.”
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Andrus, 35, spent 2023 without a club after splitting his last two seasons with the then-Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox. In September, he signed a one-day contract to retire with the Rangers, saying he’d made peace with no longer playing. He did some work for the MLB Network during the All-Star Game festivities in Arlington last summer and was open to pursuing more involvement.
With the Rangers taking over all aspects of their broadcasts as part of the creation of RSN, they also attempted to update the broadcast team with a more contemporary feel.
“Everybody knows I love to talk and have fun doing it. I’ve always loved the interaction with the media, because the media is the bridge to the fans. I love to have fun, that’s what we’re all trying to do. I did it one day last year at the All-Star Game and I really liked it. This is the next step.
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“I’ve been talking to quite a few guys – Barry Larkin, especially, recently – and they have told me to make sure to remember how hard it is to play the game. I will keep reminding myself of that because it’s true. I think sometimes when you stop playing the game, you forget a little bit how hard it is to play.”
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Andrus was the biggest name to join the broadcast team, but it wasn’t the only change as RSN was officially rolled out on Wednesday. The highlights:
–Dave Raymond will remain as the primary TV play-by-play voice.
–Former big league pitcher Mike Bacsik, who co-hosts a show on the Rangers’ flagship station 105.3 KRLD FM “The Fan,” will move into the primary in-game color analyst job, doing somewhere between 90-100 games. Murphy is expected to do about 45 games. They could also be involved in pre- and post-game spots. Former infielder Mark McLemore, who has spent 20 years as part of the pre- and post-game crew, is not expected to return for 2025.
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–Laura Stickells, 28, takes over as the primary TV dugout reporter. Emily Jones, who has been the primary in that role since 2007, has announced that she will curtail her workload further in 2025. She is expected to do only 20 games. Stickells, who has spent the last five years in Boston and most recently was part of the broadcast crew for the Red Sox’ Triple-A team in Worcester, Mass., will do at least 120 games. Lesley McCaslin, who had split time with Jones the last couple of years, is now the full-time sideline reporter for the Mavs.
–Jared Sandler, who has served as the third man in the radio booth and as an occasional TV fill-in, will have an expanded role as the pre- and post-game host on both TV and radio. The Rangers are expected to simulcast their pre- and post-game shows on TV and radio. That also means the daily manager’s show, a staple of the radio pre-game, will also be available on TV. Hall of Fame radio voice Eric Nadel will continue to do the bulk of manager’s shows with Matt Hicks doing the rest.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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Elvis Andrus lands perfect post-career venture with Texas Rangers
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