Kinsler Says He's Reached New Deal With Rangers
ARLINGTON (AP) - Ian Kinsler has agreed on a new $75 million, five-year contract with the Texas Rangers.
The two-time All-Star second baseman said he had the new deal after he hit a three-run homer in the Rangers' 11-5 victory Monday night over Seattle.
Kinsler's new deal, which is pending a physical that could happen Tuesday, would start next season and replace a $10 million option the team had for 2013. The new deal would go through 2017, and includes an option after that.
The Rangers and Kinsler had talked several weeks about a new deal this spring, but Kinsler had insisted on a self-imposed deadline of opening day to negotiate.
Before Friday's season opener, Kinsler indicated the two sides were close enough to be disappointed about a deal not being completed. He said he was focused on playing, but left open the possibility of his agent and the Rangers talking more.
General manager Jon Daniels didn't return a text message late Monday night after Yu Darvish's much-anticipated major league debut for the two-time defending American League champions.
The 29-year-old Kinsler is scheduled to make $7 million this season. He has two homers in the first four games.
In his first six major league seasons, Kinsler hit .275 and twice had 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season.
Even though he hit only .255 last season, Kinsler had a career-high 32 homers with 77 RBIs, scored 121 runs and had a .355 on-base percentage. He was 30 of 34 on stolen bases.
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