Former Agent Dennis Gilbert Fronts Group Bidding On MLB Rangers

Gilbert (r) Considered Front Man For Bid To Buy Rangers

Former MLB agent Dennis Gilbert has been identified as the "front man for investors who have been approved by Major League Baseball and have submitted a bid to Hicks Sports Group" to buy the Rangers, according to MLB sources cited by Jeff Wilson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The investors submitted the bid with the "help of the consulting group Game Plan LLC," and Gilbert and Game Plan execs "were in Dallas in late July to seek local investors, holding a series of meetings with the hope of raising a chunk of the total bid." Wilson notes a "minimum contribution of $5[M] was sought from potential local investors, who were told that the winning bid for the club could fall between" $450-525M. A source said that Gilbert's group, which has made one of six offers for the franchise, "isn't among the front-runners to land the club." The "potential buyers are expected to meet" with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig this month. Wilson noted one individual "not interested in buying the Rangers is former President George W. Bush." Bush yesterday said Rangers Owner Tom Hicks "has been a good steward" but added he is "not interested in getting back to baseball." Bush: "One reason? My checking account is a little empty" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/22).

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS: In Ft. Worth, Jennifer Floyd Engel writes under the header, "So, Who's Running The Rangers? Just Try Asking Pat Courtney." Engel left a message for MLB VP/PR Pat Courtney yesterday asking about MLB's control of the Rangers, but Courtney did not return the call, as he is "likely gagged like everybody else about this Rangers business." Engel: "All joking aside, though, what I want to ask Courtney, and his boss, is who is running the Texas Rangers and thereby in charge of big decisions facing them? Who sets the Rangers’ budget for 2010? Who decides what free agents the Rangers can or cannot pursue? Who decides whether ticket prices will be increased? ... If only somebody at MLB would clue us into what is going on" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/22).