Arlington, Texas ? Buck Showalter was everybody’s favorite managerial candidate this month the Mets, the Cubs, the media, and of course, Rangers’ owner Tom Hicks and general manager John Hart.

The Rangers got Showalter, but Texas’ new manager will have to adjust to a different role than the all-powerful position he held with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In Arizona, Showalter was hired as manager more than two years before the expansion club’s first game, and he played a major part in scouting major- and minor-league talent, as well as shaping the organization. But the Rangers already have plenty of forceful personalities, including Hart, with whom Showalter will share authority.

“A general manager and a manager have to have a close working relationship,” Hicks said. “We had a four-hour dinner the other night, and these two guys started finishing each other’s sentences after about an hour.”

Hart is known for being a very hands-on GM and someone who likes to have control. Showalter, described as an intense disciplinarian and “micro manager,” will not have as much autonomy as he did in Arizona. The two strong personalities will have to find a way to mesh well in order for the Rangers to become a winning franchise. Both men said that would be no problem.

“I’m certainly not going to be restrictive at all as to what he wants to do, because he’s our skipper,” Hart said.

Hart also said Showalter would be part of the Rangers’ leadership team, and included on any major personnel decisions. On the immediate agenda will be selection of a coaching staff and rounding out the Rangers’ roster for 2003.

Rangers farm director Trey Hillman is likely to be leaving to manage in Japan, and Hart said the position is one the club could fill from within. Showalter and Hart also will need to decide on the futures of first-base coach DeMarlo Hale, bench coach Terry Francona and pitching coach Orel Hershiser, among others. Both Showalter and Hart indicated a desire to consider retaining the current coaches before looking elsewhere for the new staff.

Showalter appeared willing to relinquish some of the control he held in Arizona. About free-agent catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, for instance, Showalter said, “I will leave that in their (Hart’s and Hicks’) hands. They’ve been here a lot longer than I have. Obviously, if my opinion’s solicited, I’ll give it.”

Showalter would need a magic wand to build an overnight champion in Arlington. With the Rangers’ young starting pitching staff, a bullpen that set a major-league record this year with 38 relief losses, and Hicks’ desire to cut payroll, the Rangers’ brass have said the team might not be a contender until 2004.

“Any club looking for a manager now doesn’t have the perfect club,” Hart said. “This is a proven guy in a lot of areas. That doesn’t mean he’s going to snap his fingers, and it’s going to happen.”

Showalter is not one to stand for slow growth. He won league championships in his first year with three different minor-league teams, and took the Yankees and Diamondbacks to the playoffs in his second season with both teams.