Earlier this year, it was all but a given that the Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his ownership group Rangers Baseball Express were to be the next owners of the Texas Rangers.  Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that the ownership group could lose its rights to buying the team and it could also lose their general manager Jon Daniel.

Daniels, 32, has an opt out clause in his contract that allows him to leave the team if the Rangers change owners. The opt-out would mean nothing if Ryan and Chuck Greenberg bought the team, but with the uncertainty of the sale, it’s possible that the team could end up int he hands of Houston businessman Jim Crane or others in an auction.

“It’s a good possibility that it might not happen,” Ryan said about owning the team. “The way they’ve invited Crane back into the picture, they seem to be more concerned with him than anyone else.”

Rosenthal says the Arizona Diamondbacks are looking for a GM and the Chicago Cubs could make a change, so Daniels wouldn’t be out of a job if he opted out.

At the end of the day, the ownership debacle could hurt the chances of the Rangers to compete this year since they are in first place and are trying to acquire the players necessary to stay competitive such as Cliff Lee.

All is not lost for the Greenberg-Ryan group. If they end up not winning the auction, they would receive a $15 million “break-up” fee.