Nolan Ryan says the Rangers and Matt Purke had a deal in place when he was drafted for $6 million. MLB squashed the deal when they took over the Rangers finances:

But at the end of the day, I have to say, I can’t kill Matt Purke for passing. He made a deal with Nolan Ryan for $6 million, and Ryan, by all accounts an individual with a great deal of pride and sense of integrity, could not honor that deal because of events and people outside of his control. I can’t kill the guy for saying, I’m not going to agree to sign for $4 million when you agreed two months ago to give me $6 million.

I wonder if Ryan tried a handshake deal to make it up to him. Sign now, and when the team gets sold, we’ll make sure you get the other $2 million. Of course, that would be dependent on the new owners keeping Ryan in charge, but his group seemed to be in the lead early. Purke would still have millions and the Rangers would own Matt.