By JON MACHOTA
FOXSportsSouthwest.com Special Contributor
Feb. 10, 2011
The last thing the Texas Rangers wanted was to have contractual talks with Josh Hamilton become a distraction entering the 2011 season.
To eliminate that option, the Rangers announced Thursday that the club had signed Hamilton to a two-year, $24 million contract that lasts through the 2012 season.
"I think our intent is to go forward on this basis and revisit at some point during the two years," general manager Jon Daniels said during a Thursday press conference at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Hamilton, who had been scheduled to have an arbitration hearing Monday in Phoenix, will receive $7.25 million this year, $13.75 million in 2012 and a $3 million signing bonus.
The three-time All-Star center fielder was seeking $12 million from arbitration while the Rangers were offering $8.7 million.
"I want to thank the Rangers for their willingness to negotiate," Hamilton said. "We all wanted to get something done and both sides worked hard to make it happen."
Hamilton, 29, was named the American League Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers Association of America last season. He hit .359 with 32 home runs and 100 RBIs during that season while leading the major leagues in batting average, slugging percentage (.633), and OPS (1.044).
Hamilton was also voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 American League Championship Series, helping the Rangers defeat the New York Yankees and advance to the first World Series in franchise history. Hamilton batted .350 with 4 home runs and 7 RBI in the ALCS.
"I could have done a one-year deal, had a great season and got $4 million to
