ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler said Wednesday he doesn't think the club needs a player to be the face of the organization.
While that might be the case, Kinsler nevertheless will be a face seen in a Rangers' uniform for the next several years, as he officially agreed to a five-year extension that also includes a club option for 2018.
The new deal begins in 2013 and will pay Kinsler $75 million over five years, with the club owning a $10 million option for the 2018 season.
Kinsler, who was drafted by the Rangers in the 17th round of the 2003 draft, made it clear Wednesday that he wants to be a Ranger for life.
"The Rangers gave me a chance in 2003," said Kinsler, who will make $13 million next year in his first season under the new deal. "Since that point I've always tried to do my best to pay back the organization for giving me the opportunity. I'm just so grateful to be sitting here right now and know I'm part of this organization for another six years and hopefully longer."
Kinsler's been a key factor in helping the Rangers' play at a championship level. Kinsler, 29, owns two of the 17 30-30 seasons recorded by American League players. He's also one of the leaders in the clubhouse.
All of those factors made it important for the club to get something done with Kinsler during a negotiation process that began early in January.
"I think everybody knew the right thing to get done was keep Ian a Ranger for a long period of time, and so we kind of kept that in front of us," said Texas general manager Jon Daniels. "Different things come up during the course of a negotiation, but we're all happy we're here today."
Kinsler wasn't sure the deal would get done. He said on Opening Day the deal was close enough to getting
done that he was disappointed it hadn't happened.
He also said he wasn't going to let the contract be a distraction, even if talks continued into the season.
"Basically the whole process, I thought it wasn't going to get done," Kinsler said. "Me and (agent) Jay (Franklin) are honestly like best friends. It's not like a regular or normal agent-player relationship, and we discuss everything openly, honestly. It was obviously a long process and a drawn-out process, and I guess just being part of it you get emotionally invested in it. That's probably the way negotiations normally go, but just being involved with it made it a little more difficult. Looking back on it, ultimately it got done and the Rangers really stepped out and did their part."
Club president Nolan Ryan knows the importance of locking up key players like Kinsler and pitcher Derek Holland.
"You know going forward where you stand as far as your roster is concerned, and also you have the opportunity to keep the talent that you feel is important to your organization in your organization," Ryan said. "That's the way we look at it, and when you identify certain players that fill that role, then I think it's important that you try to tie them up; and obviously with the way contracts are going and the economics in the game, the tendency now is when you identify those people, try to keep them in your system as long as you possibly can."
Getting the Kinsler deal done may not signal the end of signings for the Rangers this season, but Daniels made it clear that the team would try to keep contract talks under wraps. Mike Napoli, Josh Hamilton and Colby Lewis can all be free agents after this season.
