Mike Maddux out as Texas Rangers' pitching coach

The Texas Rangers have parted ways with pitching coach Mike Maddux, the club announced Thursday.

Maddux spent seven seasons with Texas and had previously been invited to return for the 2016 season.

But contract negotiations stalled and Maddux expressed a desire to seek out other opportunities when his contract expires on Saturday. Those factors prompted the Rangers to begin looking for a new pitching coach.

"Jeff Banister and I met with Mike this morning to inform him we had decided to go in another direction," Rangers president of baseball operations and general manager Jon Daniels said in a team release. "I want to thank Mike for his outstanding contributions to the Texas Rangers organization. He has played a major role in the success we have enjoyed over the last seven years. His dedication to developing and improving our major league pitching staff is greatly appreciated."

Texas also informed Greg Maddux - the Hall of Fame pitcher and younger brother of Mike Maddux - that he won't be back as a special assistant to Daniels.