If there's a choice between Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels, there really isn't a choice. You stick with Daniels because he's built this team and is in charge of one of the top front-office staffs in the big leagues.
But why can't there be a balance? Why can't there be a spot for Ryan with this club that still allows him to be involved in some of the decisions so he's not simply a figurehead CEO?
The last thing this ownership group should want is for Ryan to leave. I say that not only because of the public relations nightmare but also because Ryan still has value. Just because Daniels is the guy running the day-to-day activities of baseball operations doesn't mean Ryan doesn't matter.
Look at the parts of this club that have Ryan's fingerprints. Jackie Moore is manager Ron Washington's bench coach and trusted right-hand man. Mike Maddux is the club's pitching coach, and his famous Hall of Fame brother is a key consultant, especially right now at spring training.
Joe Nathan admits that Ryan helped lure him to Texas. The idea that pitchers need to be in better condition and get past the mental hurdle of pitch counts has certainly helped the rotation and altered the attitude of the organization in regard to arms.
Most important, it was Ryan who attached his name and influence to the ownership group that ended up purchasing the Rangers. Without Bob Simpson, Ray Davis and the cadre of owners, there wouldn't be enough money to sign
Yu Darvish or
Adrian Beltre, two key members of the club's core. Ryan also participated in the recruiting process with Darvish, as the club treated him like a five-star recruit in an effort to get him signed before the deadline.
When Ryan walks into a room, he commands respect. Pitchers know they can pick his brain if they want to --
Derek Holland did that this offseason, in fact -- and it's certainly a benefit to have Ryan talking to prospective free agents and selling the Rangers.
The question now is whether ownership can sell Ryan on remaining the CEO and whether that's a position that has real power or if it's more of a ceremonial one. It isn't Ryan's style to put up with the latter. If that means he leaves, that's costly for the Rangers as an organization.