Major League Baseball

Ryan wouldn't stay with Rangers in lesser role

Published Dec. 13, 2009 4:31 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan says he is unsure when or how the pending sale of the team will be resolved - a decision that will determine if he stays with the organization.

``I have no way of knowing,'' Ryan said Friday. ``We'll just have to wait and see.''

Ryan has partnered with Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg and a group of mainly local investors in a bid to buy the team.

Another finalist is former sports agent Dennis Gilbert, who likely would be involved in running daily operations if his group gets the Rangers. Ryan said at the winter meetings this week that he wouldn't stay and work with Gilbert under such a scenario.

Ryan said he has since spoken with Gilbert, but the Hall of Fame pitcher indicated that his position hasn't changed.

``I don't anticipate being here and taking a lesser role because I want to kind of set the direction of the organization,'' said Ryan, though he added it was too hard to predict what might happen.

Tom Hicks hired Ryan as team president in February 2008, and put him in charge of running the team on a daily basis.

Gilbert and Greenberg were thought to be the only finalists heading into an anticipated deadline Tuesday for Hicks to inform Major League Baseball which bid he planned to accept.

Ryan indicated Friday, however, that a group other than Gilbert and Greenberg had resubmitted a revised proposal. The only other known proposal to buy the team was made by a group headed by Houston businessman Jim Crane, who in the past had attempted to purchase the Astros.

Hicks, who previously had been working to put together a group in an effort to maintain ownership of the team, said in an e-mail Friday that he wasn't commenting on the process.

Ryan also said he was unsure if the Tuesday deadline was firm.

``I think it's still very much in Tom's hands, what he'd like to do and be able to do,'' Ryan said.

Greenberg owns two minor league baseball teams, and recently sold a third. He previously represented buyers for two NHL teams, Pittsburgh in 1999 and Florida in 2001.

Ryan, a principal owner of a group that owns and operates two minor league teams that his sons help run, said common background helped his decision to partner with Greenberg.

``Chuck and I spent more time together than anybody else and I felt like that the role he wants to play with the local interest here, I felt like it was just a better matchup for me,'' Ryan said.

Gilbert is a special adviser for the Chicago White Sox who still runs his insurance company in California. He is a former minor league player who became successful in insurance, writing policies for some entertainers and athletes.

As a sports agent, his clients included George Brett, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza and Curt Schilling.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball