MLB Rangers co-Chair Ray Davis said that the team has "seen an increase in full-season ticket equivalencies" ahead of the '16 season and is "operating at a profit," according to Jeff Wilson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Davis added that the price of a barrel of West Texas crude oil "has had no impact on the Rangers’ budget, and won’t going forward." Davis: "The genesis of the money may have come originally from oil and gas, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to move the payroll up and down based on the price of oil." Davis yesterday "gave his first interview on the club’s finances since helping purchase the club" in '10. Davis’ budget summit "centered on finding room to add players" like LF Ian Desmond. But he also spoke about the decision to "place additional netting above the dugouts at Globe Life Park for fan safety and suggested that the Rangers are closing in on land for a new academy in the Dominican Republic." That all "costs money, too, from an ownership group that includes several prominent members who made their fortunes through oil and gas." Davis said that the Rangers are "operating at a profit" despite not clearing 2.5 million fans in '15 and entering '16 with a payroll just north of $157M. He also noted that the ownership group "can add more salaries this season at the July 31 trade deadline" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/3). In Dallas, Evan Grant notes full-season ticket equivalencies are "up to about 16,600." The club's full-season base in '15 "was below 16,000." Davis said of adding payroll to sign Desmond, "It was a matter of need and [President of Baseball Operations & GM] Jon Daniels and [Assistant GM] Thad Levine finding a way to do things creatively. They came to us and proposed a creative deal" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/3).
