Does Maddux still have a great reputation as a pitching coach? I remember him being some kind of guru but just haven't heard his name in a long time.

He just finished 5 years in StL so I'm not sure why you haven't heard his name. They have been pretty average most of the time he was there but they weren't exactly bursting with great pitchers. Do pitching coaches ever get credit anymore or is it all spin rates and analytics that get the credit?

He's solid to good, the issue is that the Cardinals have had injuries, but I don't think he has anything to do with that. He accepts saber wisdom while pushing a control and pitch low in the zone philosophy. Nobody has a bad thing to say about him.

Going from the Cardinals to the Rangers though might end up being a bellwether on if front offices should push philosophy. He absolutely knows how to coach a pitcher, the problem is that instead of having a unique philosophy for each pitcher, the Cardinals have been pushing a single philosophy for all pitchers. For some it works great, but for others not so much and might be limiting. Not everyone is Miles Mikolas, some are Sandy Alcantara. I think if Maddux is the kind of coach that fully understands that there is a team philosophy in play, and to work with the team philosophy, but if given a chance he can do much better by recognizing the players he has and letting them play to their strengths instead of a core team philosophy.

Honestly, right now if I had to bet, that you will see an overall improvement in the Rangers pitching next year among their existing talent, he's that good, and the Rangers are lazy enough that they won't interfere as much with him.