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Ian Kinsler Contract Extension: Texas Rangers Star Gets $75M Deal

Texas Rangers star second baseman Ian Kinsler wanted to get a contract extension done before the start of the 2012 season, but it's better late than never since the deal keeps him in a Rangers uniform possibly through the 2018 season and pays him $75 million.

This deal, which starts next season and replaces his $10 million option all pending a physical for it to go through, gives Kinsler the highest total amount for a second baseman in the history of Major League Baseball. It takes effect in 2013.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Kinsler's agent, Jay Franklin of the BBI Sports Group, said that the negotiations picked up over the weekend after the sides got close to a deal late last week.

"They stepped out on a limb here and paid a guy with two years left on his contract the highest AAV ever given to a second baseman," Franklin said late Monday. "The Texas Rangers are absolutely committed to keeping a winner here. They want to establish a dynasty.

"Quite frankly, they didn't need to extend Ian. They had two years left for us to get market value on Ian. I didn't think this would happen. JD, Thad and I wrestled for a week or two weeks straight. At the end of the day, we agreed on what this guy means to the organization and the community."

Read more about the Rangers at Lone Star Ball.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.