Rangers May Explore Long-Term Extensions

Rangers GM Jon Daniels says that the club still may explore long-term extensions with some players before Spring Training ends, writes MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  The club currently has four notable players who could be candidates for new deals.

Even though he won't be a free agent until after the 2015 season, Elvis Andrus could be in line for an extension.  As Sullivan points out, the Rangers worked out a multiyear deal with Ian Kinsler at a similar point in his career to skirt future arbitration years. Rightfielder Nelson Cruz has three years left before he can test the open market but a multiyear deal would mean avoiding two years of arbitration.

Club officials have suggested that an extension is unlikely with left-hander C.J. Wilson, who is a free agent after this season.  Same goes for slugger Josh Hamilton who recently signed a two-year, $24MM deal to avoid arbitration.  Even though Hamilton is the biggest name in the quartet, Sullivan writes that because the deal was just completed, the two parties probably aren't in a rush to hammer out a new one right away.

Meanwhile, the Rangers would also like to get a deal done with Daniels.  Club president Nolan Ryan is confident that the two sides will work out an extension, though he won't put a timetable on it.