Nolan Ryan testified in bankruptcy court Wednesday and appealed for a quick resolution to the team’s bankruptcy and sale. Ryan claimed that the club is damaged by the delays in the process.
Keeping the Texas Rangers in bankruptcy court by delaying the Aug. 4 auction will hurt the team and maybe even cost them slugger Josh Hamilton after this season, Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan told a federal bankruptcy judge Wednesday.
“I don’t know that I want to be there [if] Josh Hamilton doesn’t come back next year,” Ryan said.
The Rangers president said recent deals to land ace pitcher Cliff Lee and catcher Bengie Molina came “at a very expensive cost” because of the bankruptcy. Although the Rangers got more than $4 million with the players, the team had to give up more than it wanted: first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers.
Ryan said not signing international players and depleting its minor league teams will hurt the club down the road, although those decisions have helped the team stay in budget as it makes a run for the American League West title and first postseason berth since 1999.
Using Hamilton as an example of the problems facing the team can be disputed, but the club losing Blake Beavan, Michael Main and an entire international class, as well as potentially being unable to sign supplemental first round pick Luke Jackson is clearly a direct result of the extended delays brought on by haggling with creditors.