T.R. Sullivan has a story up, with quotes from Tom Hicks this afternoon denying recent reports that MLB is basically controlling the Rangers finances:

"We are free to operate the Texas Rangers baseball operations in the normal course of business, consistent with our budget and normal business practices," Hicks said. "There is nothing from Major League Baseball that restricts us. There are no restrictions, as long as we stay within our budget.

"All decisions being made are being made by myself, [team president] Nolan Ryan and [general manager] Jon Daniels, and not by Major League Baseball."

Hicks specifically refutes the recent stories that Texas didn't sign Matt Purke because MLB didn't let him.  Hicks says the Rangers offered $4 million, and the Purke family wouldn't consider less than $6 million.

According to Sullivan, the Rangers were willing to take on Adrian Beltre's salary after Michael Young got hurt, but couldn't do a deal, and have generally not been a ward of the state, as has been presented.

Read the article for more.