SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Nolan Ryan saga continues to drag on.
Ryan pulled up to the Surprise Recreation Campus around 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and spoke briefly to four reporters but said he had no new information regarding his status.The optimism that Ryan will remain with the team that has surfaced the past two days is beginning to erode somewhat, sources said Sunday. And, as originally reported, Ryan might not make a decision until the end of spring training and the season-opening series in Houston.Ryan, according to sources, has two obligations he made months ago to fulfill: in San Antonio for the Rangers’ two exhibition games there March 29-30 and in Houston during the Rangers’ season-opening series against the Astros.Ryan could still remain with the team after that and issued a statement later in the day saying his conversations with principal owners Bob Simpson and Ray Davis have been “productive.” But the statement didn’t clear anything up and Ryan’s future remains as uncertain as it was from Day 1.Ryan’s statement read: “Over the last week, Ray Davis, Bob Simpson and I have been in discussion and met in-person. The conversations have been productive, and we have discussed my role as CEO of the organization. We agreed these discussions will continue as we go forward.“I am very proud of what the Rangers have accomplished over the last several years and I believe our preparations for the upcoming season are what is important.”Ryan is not expected to make any additional comments at this time.The 66-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher and Texas icon has been contemplating his future with the organization after he lost his team president title on March 1. The Rangers promoted Jon Daniels to president of baseball operations/ general manager and Rick George to president of business operations.Ryan held both of those titles, along with CEO, and is now simply the CEO.Ryan flew back to Texas to meet with Simpson and Davis for three hours on Friday, and then had dinner with Simpson at Del Frisco’s in Fort Worth.Simpson called the meeting “positive” and Ryan returned to Surprise on Saturday.It appeared that the Rangers and Ryan were close to a resolution that could have been announced as early as Sunday, but that did not come to fruition.Sources told the Star-Telegram last week that Ryan was so upset and unsure of what his role would be that he was considering leaving his post after fulfilling those commitments in San Antonio and Houston.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760Twitter: @drewdavison
