Nolan Ryan in Favor of Texas-Sized Rangers-Astros Rivalry

The competitor in the “The Ryan Express” is showing no signs of slowing down.

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan says he would welcome the addition of a National League team, particularly inner-state rival Houston Astros, as part of a proposed division realignment plan by Major League Baseball.

“I wouldn’t be against it at all,” Ryan told reporters at a news briefing Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Field . “We’d love to have another team in our division that is in our time zone. I think right now, it puts us and our fans at a disadvantage when it comes to TV starting times. And, if you had the Rangers and Astros in the same division and they were both competing for the playoffs, I think it would create quite a bit of interest around Texas.”

Commissioner Bud Selig and the owners are reportedly mulling between the Astors and Arizona Diamondbacks as potential candidates to switch leagues in the event baseball approves realignment and moves to two 15-team leagues.

[The Dallas Morning News]