Nolan Ryan has been involved with the Texas Rangers’ front office since he joined as president in 2008. Since that time, the Rangers have won two AL West titles, two AL pennants and a wild card. Ryan may be on his way out now, though.
Ryan could leave his position as CEO by the end of spring training, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The Rangers promoted Jon Daniels to president of baseball operations/general manager and Rick George to president of business operations. Those moves — made in November, but announced on Friday — stripped Ryan of his power over baseball and business decisions.
Bob Simpson and Ray Davis control the ownership group. Simpson denied reports that Ryan was stripped of power and that he was on his way out.
“Nolan Ryan leaving the Rangers would be a tragedy and something we don’t want to happen,” Simpson told the Forth Worth Telegram. “We absolutely do not want Nolan to leave. The moves we announced [on Friday] were to preserve Nolan, not to remove him, or remove his power. We want Nolan to be with the Rangers forever, and in charge of the team as long as he wants to be.”
Simpson said Ryan is still in charge of significant decisions, but the team wanted to remove some of the “day-to-day stuff.” Ryan still has three years remaining on contract with the Rangers.
Photo via Facebook/Nolan Ryan’s All Natural Beef
