The Texas Rangers have announced a pair of promotions within their front office.

A.J. Preller has been named the team's Assistant General Manager over Player Development and Scouting. Preller previously held the title of Senior Director of Player Personnel.

Mike Daly has been named the team's Senior Director of Minor League Operations. Daly previously had been the Director of International Scouting for the Rangers.

Preller has made his name heading of the Rangers' efforts in Latin America, and has developed a strong reputation as one of the really good young up-and-coming executives in the game.

Daly is, as I understand it, essentially replacing Tim Purpura, who had been hired by Nolan Ryan as the Senior Director for Player Development when Scott Servias left to join the Angels after the 2011 season. The replacing of Servais, a member of Jon Daniels' inner circle, with Purpura instead of Jayce Tingler has been pointed to as one of the sources of conflict between Nolan Ryan (or his "camp") and Jon Daniels (or his "camp").

More from Lone Star Ball: