10:33pm: The Rangers will likely make a contract offer when they meet with Kinsler's representatives on Wednesday, tweets Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
7:20pm: The Rangers and Ian Kinsler are discussing a six-year extention for the second baseman, though the two sides haven't yet been able to agree on financial terms, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Kinsler's current contract expires after this season, though Texas holds a $10MM option on him for 2013. The new deal would replace that option and run through the 2018 season. Rosenthal says the Rangers are willing to give Kinsler a contract that would exceed Dan Uggla's five-year, $62MM pact with the Braves.
One of the possible holdups, Rosenthal opines, could be Robinson Cano's next contract. The Yankees hold a $15MM option on Cano for 2013 and Cano's next deal (whether in free agency or in an extension with New York) will assuredly pay him more. While Cano is likely to command a larger deal, Kinsler doesn't want to be "shortchanging himself" by signing an extension that ends up worth much less than what Cano eventually earns. The Yankees have said they plan to keep Cano, though since their team policy is to not enter into early negotiations with pending free agents, there haven't been and won't be any early hints about a new Cano contract that the Rangers and Kinsler can use as a baseline.
The Rangers apparently have just three days to hammer out a new deal with their second baseman, as Kinsler told Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he doesn't want negotiations to last into the season. Kinsler said an extension "could" still be possible and he wants "to be treated fairly amongst his peers."
Rosenthal recently reported that the length of the contract, not the value, was the main obstacle between Kinsler and the Rangers, so it's a sign of progress that the two sides have apparently settled on a six-year deal. Kinsler would be the fourth, and most high-profile, Ranger to sign an extension this offseason, following Elvis Andrus, Nelson Cruz and Derek Holland's multiyear deals.
Awesome!
How much money does a player need these days?
As much as the owners are willing to give them.
I would say as much as the free market is willing to pay them. Guess we’re saying the same thing, though.
6 for 72…
Pretty sure $12 million a year would get the Rangers laughed out of the negotiating session.
Kinsler long contract
Kinsler is a 5.5 WAR player the last 4 years. That is worth $25M+ in today’s market. Inflate that and you get even more. Obviously the Rangers take on risk by going six years, so they are not going to sign for $25M per.
Votto just signed for $25M per year for 10 years. He was about a 6 WAR player the last 4 years. Votto is about a year younger, but he will actually be the same age when his extension kicks in.
So Kinsler is very close to being the same player (in value) and is only looking at getting getting locked up for 6 years (saving the rangers great risk in that they dont have to commit to his 37 thru 40 seasons).
I honestly dont get why he would settle for less than $22M per year. That still might be a bargain for the Rangers in the new market.
As someone who roots for the Rangers, I hope they get something done.
Made a mistake. Votto’s extension is for $22.5M per season.
Ian is a 2nd baseman and they don’t typically age well. Plus he has injury concerns already. Joey Votto got his salary because he is a 1b, and two high profile 1b just signed huge deals. Dan Uggla really is the best comp for Ian because he is the last big name 2b to sign a deal
1) Uggla is not a good comp. He entered his FA season with 14.7 WAR over his last 4 seasons. For comparison, Kinsler was 7.7 WAR last year(!!!) (and 22 WAR over the last 4).
2) Big players do not age as well as athletic fit players. That is a myth. Ask Ryan Howard and Richie Sexton.
3) Votto is MUCH more likely to spend time on the DL over the next 12 years as Kinsler is over the next 7 (current deals plus -proposed – extensions). This is the worst argument that could me made (because the reverse is true).
4) Value is value. The position doesnt matter. Kinsler being worth 7 WAR as a 2B is the same value as Votto earning 7 WAR as a 1B. Your argument is like saying five nickels is less valuable than a quarter.
2nd baseman do not age well because the position is very demanding physically and they get slid into on a regular basis, has nothing to do with his size. Ian is no doubt a better player than Uggla, however Uggla was the last second baseman to sign a big multi year deal so therefore his contract is going to be used as a reference point for the Rangers. Using a power hitting 1B’s as a reference point for what a middle infielder should command in salary is just silly. Vottos skills get him paid, Kinsler has an undervalued skill set
Ok. My point is that value is value. Comparing Kinsler to a player that is about 6/10ths has value over the 4 years prior to the contract doesnt make much sense. Whether it is done or not I have no idea, but it literally makes no sense.
If the Rangers DO offer anything less than $15M per Kinsler should walk out and start planning for life in a new city. Cano is going to get close to $20M (and deserves it).
Only Cano, Phillips, Uggla, and Pedrioa have more PAs than Kinsler as a 2B over the last 4 years.
And lastly, he has earned about the same value as the Votto over the last 4 years.
Saying that Uggla is a comp for Kinsler is like saying that a 2500 Sq Ft home is a good comp to a 5000 Sq Ft home accross the street. The larger home should be worth about double if you actually USE the comparison.
There are not many people who are (were) as big of a fans of Uggs as I was when he was with the Fish. Uggs was an offensive machine with his power, but he just couldn’t move at all to his left on the defense even then and granted, didn’t watch many of his games, doubt that has gotten any better as he has gotten a year older.
His range to his right was about average even then and his hands were solid, those 2 errors in the AS game a couple years back seem to be all people remember (or choose 2) about his defense and it’s just not a real factor at all.
His power bat and hands were what made him one of the best 2b around and don’t quote me on this..But seem to recall he reached the 100HR plateau fastest all time of any 2B ever.. That is, for time played?
They need to let him walk, he is too fragile
…
Makes sense to sign Kinsler. Hope they don’t because I’m hoping the dodgers make a play for him. And move Ellis to utility role…