Rangers president Nolan Ryan talked to reporters today. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and has the story.
- Ryan said to expect payroll to remain in the same range next season, meaning around $68MM. By my calculations the Rangers have about $44MM committed before arbitration raises to Josh Hamilton, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, and Frank Francisco. GM Jon Daniels should have around $15MM with which to work.
- Ryan doesn't plan on the Rangers signing a big-name free agent to a long-term deal. The team wants to re-sign Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez while adding a right-handed bat and multiple pitchers (veteran starter, left-handed reliever according to manager Ron Washington).
- Ryan doesn't believe the team's unsettled ownership situation "impacts us at all."
