Ryan’s group wins bid for Rangers

An investment group led by Hall of Fame pitcher and Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan won a contentious and unusual auction for the baseball team early Thursday, beating back a nearly $600-million offer from outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Officials in federal bankruptcy court in Fort Worth announced the winning bid to cheers and a standing ovation in the courtroom, some 10 hours after the auction began.

The Greenberg-Ryan group had Major League Baseball’s endorsement, and its final offer included $385 million in cash. The final hearing on the team’s bankruptcy plan was scheduled for later Thursday.

“It was an emotional roller coaster,” a smiling Ryan said between hugs with colleagues and well-wishers in the courthouse. “You go to court one day and it didn’t go your way, but you go back another day and it would. It’s a relief.”

Final approval of the Rangers sale rests with MLB, which had the option of choosing the second-highest bid instead. But it didn’t come to that.

League President Bob DuPuy said: “I’m very pleased and I look forward to Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan leading the team for many years to come.”

Phillies get Sweeney

The Seattle Mariners traded five-time All-Star Mike Sweeney to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named or cash considerations.

The Phillies announced they had acquired Sweeney a day after they put All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard on the disabled list with a sprained ankle.

Etc.

The Florida Marlins are optimistic that Chris Coghlan will return to the team this season. He tore the meniscus in his left knee July 25 while delivering a pie to the face of teammate Wes Helms after a 5-4 win over Atlanta. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-handed relievers Chris Resop (Atlanta) and Chan Ho Park (New York Yankees) off waivers and added them to their 25-man roster.