The Rangers and Ian Kinsler have officially agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep the second baseman in place through 2017. The deal is worth $75MM and includes an option for a sixth year.
Kinsler obtains $70MM in salary plus a $5MM buyout for the club option. The BBI Sports Group client doesn't obtain additional no-trade protection, though his ten and five rights will take effect midway through the deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
The two sides were first said to be discussing an extension earlier in the offseason, but talks appeared to pick up steam over the last few weeks. The 29-year-old said he would prefer not to negotiate during the season, but the sides eventually resumed talks. The Rangers held a $10MM option for Kinsler's services next season, which is when the extension will kick in. The deal will keep him in Texas through 2017 and possibly 2018.
Kinsler is a .276/.356/.470 career hitter, though he put together his second 30-30 season in 2011. He also walked (89) more than he struck out (71) and finished 11th in the MVP voting. Kinsler is a two-time All-Star and has thrice finished in the top 26 of the MVP voting. UZR says his defense at second has been among the best at the position over the last three seasons. It's worth noting that 2011 was the first time Kinsler managed to avoid the disabled list in his six full big league seasons.
The contract easily surpasses Dan Uggla's five-year, $62MM with the Braves and may have impacted extension talks between the Reds and Brandon Phillips. Cincinnati recently locked Phillips up to a six-year, $72.5MM contract. Kinsler's deal could also serve as framework for an extension between the Yankees and Robinson Cano. At $14MM per year, Kinsler's contract is largest ever for a second baseman in terms of average annual value, at least until the Yankees exercise Cano's $15MM option for 2013. Chase Utley's seven-year, $85MM contract is still the richest total deal at the position.
Jeff Wilson of The Fort-Worth Star Telegram first reported the agreement (on Twitter) and Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News added the terms of the deal. Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.
But for how much!? Does he exceed Uggla or fall short? Seems like ballplayers are picky about the respect inferred by the exact size of the contract relative to comparable players- everybody recalls how Pavano couldn’t get that final $50,000 or whatever to make his deal exactly $40MM.
Not bad deal from Rangers standpoint and an excellent one from Kinsler’s. Cano will be looking (probably) for 2-4m more than that as an AAV, but Texas didn’t have to commit but to 1 year more than they should have had to guaranteed and Kinsler is a top 3 game wise at his position afterall.
Yeah he probably will get more, but the Yankees can have him. I’ll take Ian over him.
Based on the amount of money Cano will probably get, or because you feel Kinsler is a better 2B.
Both.
Kinsler is hurt too much and his bat is not as good as Cano’s for certain, especially when you see Kinsler’s Away stats which are not good.
Defense to Kinsler though, and I certainly would not give Cano $5-$10 million more, but Cano deserves more than Kinsler, simplly because 1 – He hits better, 2 – He stays healthy, and 3- Although Kinsler is better on defense, Cano is not terrible at all.
Kinsler is in a different spot in the lineup but he gets on base more and scores more runs. He also has a higher OBP and has hit more HR’s and can steal. He is a 30-30 guy two times over. He does really well what the Rangers need him to do at lead off. His RBI’s if he had better hitters in front of him. Their WAR has been pretty close. (kinsler/Cano)
2011 5.4/4.6
2010 3.7/6.3 (injury)
2009 5.0/4.9
2008 5.3/1.2
2007 3.8/5.6
So over the last 5 years Kinsler has a better WAR 23.2 to 22.6. But they have different styles so it comes down to what each is needed to do for their teams.
Awwww yeaaaa
This is great news!!
Yeah Cano is gonna go for at least 5 years/$80MM now and might go for as much as 6 years/$120MM.
6/120MM seems high even for the Yankees. Remember that they are (seemingly) sincerely trying to get under 189MM by 2014. I think 5/80MM is a solid floor, with the max being something like 6/95MM, so long as Cashman is able to be in control of the negotiations.
I feel like, given the team he’s on, given that he’s homegrown talent, etc. Cano is gonna try to exceed the $100MM mark, given what his comparable team mates make.
After more consideration and reading, I agree. He’ll most likely beat 100MM.
I love this deal for the Rangers. LOVE it at a baseball standpoint. I think Brandon Phillips will get about the same, as he should. That would be great for the Reds. What will be interesting will be what the Yankees will extend Cano for. He will be a Yankee, just unsure what he grabs.
FINALLY! Now maybe JD can get with Hamiltons agent and get a deal that works for both sides. Hamilton, like Kinsler, has mentioned he’d agree to a contract in season. So let’s get it done.
Pedroia must be scratching his head by now.
dandruff?
kidding of course, totally agree with you though, Pedroia has to be thinking that he’s getting underpaid
Pedey only had 1 year in when he signed that deal and actually, the 1st year made 1m which was pretty decent for a 2nd year player..MVP or not.
He’ll get his after another 3 seasons and remember will only be 31 then, not like will be creaking around with the gout or anything by then :-)
Ian is already 30, this will be the LAST/ONLY big deal for Kinsler; he will be 36 by the end of the contract if the Rangers pick up the option.
Pedroia signed his contract at age 25 and will be 31 at the end of it (with the option picked up) putting him in line for another 5 year deal worth $18M+/year.
Pedroia having dandruff isn’t likely with his hairline
From his beard?
Solid deal. Good for the team and good for the player. Congrats Rangers fans.
This is awesome for Texas and their fans, but man I wish my team had him.
Texas is such an exciting team–and I hate the AL.
Profar should be a great trade chip
They can’t have a lineup of multimillionaires. Andrus has Boras for an agent and locking him up won’t be cheap. My guess if he will be traded if Profar continues to show progress.
Profar projects to be the better player anyways.
Overall, definitely. Defensively at SS? I’d say Elvis is ahead of Profar.
Profar is still pretty dang good though.
I may be the only one who thinks this, but Kinsler in CF when Profar comes up would be an interesting idea.
Not center, maybe left.
How much is the option worth? Would it be the largest contract to 2b if exercise?
probably more or equal. It won’t be under 15M IMO
Bye bye Josh Hamilton
It’s not like the Rangers are out of money.
Good deal for the Rangers. Hopefully Cano gets under $100 mil as well (unless he got 6 years)
I think the Astros have a better chance of winning the WS this year. No way does Cano sign for under $100MM, especially in New York, IMO.
“I think the Astros have a better chance of winning the WS this year”
Now don’t go that far.
Ha ha ha yes, seems like hyperbole, but I stand by it. I just don’t see Cano accepting less than 100MM from the Yanks- not after watching them hand out the $$$ over the years to Jeter, Arod, Tex, Sabathia, etc and the current going rate for free agent bats. If Reyes gets 100MM, no way Cano doesn’t as well, even factoring in a SS to 2B discount.
Great use of the word thrice!
And why do we like Kinsler?
The Scouts: He gets on base.
Billy Beane: He gets on base!
John Poloni: So he walks a lot.
Billy Beane: He gets on base a lot. Do I care if it’s a walk or a hit?[looks over at Peter]
Billy Beane: Pete?
Peter Brand: You do not.
Billy Beane: I do not.
This contract doesn’t mean such a thing at all.
I’m starting to wonder if sabremetrics were developed by someone with close family ties to a major leaguer.
Kinsler is a nice player, but he’s not a high average player and he’s had trouble staying healthy. Sure his WAR probably indicates he’s a 300 million dollar player (vomit), but these contracts are insane.