Ryan's term to last 4 years

Nolan Ryan has a term befitting a president.

The Hall of Fame pitcher agreed Friday to a four-year contract in his new role with the Texas Rangers, a job he accepted 3½ weeks ago to revitalize a franchise that's had only one winning season since its last division title in 1999.

"That's the same length of time the president of the United States has his job," Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "If he does a good job he gets re-elected. I think there's a good chance Nolan will have a chance to get re-elected."

Hicks also Friday extended general manager Jon Daniels' contract by two years through the 2011 season, coinciding with the length of Ryan's deal.

Ryan, the 61-year-old career strikeout leader who played the last five of his record 27 major-league seasons with the Rangers, said he plans an evaluation period before deciding on any changes for the franchise.

"I don't want to come in and make wholesale changes without knowing where we are in this organization and this operation," said Ryan, who arrived Thursday in Arizona for the team's spring training.

"I wasn't here when decisions were made and directions were taken, so I don't know in my heart who's responsible for what. I feel like it's important for me to give people an opportunity to do their job."

Asked how long his evaluation would take, Ryan said he couldn't give a timeframe yet.

But Ryan made it clear that he's not planning to be a figurehead president or a "Rangers mascot" as he heard one radio commentator suggest.

"The reason I took this job, it was a window of opportunity that would probably never present itself again," Ryan said. "At this point in my life, it was really from a timing standpoint, a good opportunity for me, and I've always wanted to do something of this nature in baseball.

"Will it be a much bigger challenge than I anticipated? Probably."

Since retiring as a player in 1994, after winning 324 games and throwing seven no-hitters, Ryan has been a successful businessman. He owns two minor-league baseball franchises in Texas, is the majority owner and chairman of a bank, and is an investor in a beef company.

Gonzalez has broken knee: Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez was diagnosed with a broken left knee Friday. He will be evaluated again in three weeks.

The Reds said earlier this week that Gonzalez was expected to miss the first few spring-training games because of a sore knee. An examination by team physician Timothy Kremchek revealed the break.

Gonzalez hit .272 with 16 homers and 55 RBI in his first season with the Reds. He didn't start a game after Sept. 12 because of a bone bruise in the same knee.

The team said the fracture is unrelated to the injury that Gonzalez sustained last year.

Jeff Keppinger leads the candidates to take over for Gonzalez. Veteran Juan Castro is another option.

"There are four or five guys that are affected," manager Dusty Baker said.

Murcer to have brain biopsy: New York Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer is scheduled to undergo a brain biopsy Monday in Houston. Murcer had surgery on Dec. 28, 2006, four days after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. An MRI performed Tuesday showed an area of concern, which could be scar tissue or another tumor.

The 61-year-old Murcer played with the Yankees, San Francisco and the Cubs during a 17-year career. He has been a broadcaster on Yankees games for 23 seasons.

Astros to honor Clemens' deal: Roger Clemens was a no-show when Houston Astros minor-leaguers went through their usual drills at spring training Friday in Kissimmee, Fla. The Rocket flew home to Houston instead of working with the young prospects for a third straight day, said his oldest son, Koby, a catcher in the Astros' system. Clemens departed the day after the FBI said it opened an investigation into whether he lied in sworn testimony about steroids.

Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane said Friday he will honor Clemens' 10-year personal services contract despite the FBI's decision. McLane said that reports that he was reconsidering Clemens' contract because of his legal issues were "overstated."

"All the legal troubles, does that jeopardize this?" he said. "My answer was, 'I don't know where that's going. We'll just have to wait and evaluate what happens.' But I don't see anything that's occurred right now that would jeopardize his contract. That's what was overstated."

Clemens' contract begins after he retires.