Rangers deny 3-year contract limit for Josh Hamilton

Texas Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine told ESPN baseball analyst Jim Bowden there is no truth to the rumors of the team limiting any new contract offer to slugger Josh Hamilton.

Thad Levine TX AGM denied they have a limit of 3 yrs for any offer for Josh Hamilton and said only the Rangers & Mike Moye his agent know

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) November 12, 2012

Previously, USA Today wrote that Hamilton might be limited to a three-year deal coming from the Rangers. Bowden said that the 31-year-old could find a taker for five years and around $115 million despite the potential risk in the form of slumps or off-the-field issues.

Fellow ESPN reporter Buster Olney also reports that the All-Star could command a good amount of cash from the Philadelphia Phillies, but the length of a wanted deal was also an issue there.

Hamilton was one of several players to turn down $13.3 million qualifying offers on Friday. That was a pay cut from his salary of $13.75 million in 2012.

Last season, Hamilton hit 43 home runs and had 128 RBI while hitting .285 for the Rangers.