Nelson Cruz, Rangers Nearing Two-Year Extension

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Texas Rangers and slugger Nelson Cruz are nearing a two-year contract extension.  The terms of the deal are unknown at this time, but Grant speculates that Cruz’s new contract is in the $14-15 million range.

This offseason the Rangers and Cruz had been unable to settle on a 2012 salary.  The Rangers put in an offer of $5.5 million while Cruz countered with $7.5 million.  As a result, an arbitration hearing was scheduled; though that will be canceled if a deal goes through.

Cruz has developed into one of the cogs of the Rangers dangerous lineup.  A late-bloomer, Cruz burst onto the scene in 2009, maintaining an OPS of .856 over his 515 plate appearances.

Last season for the Rangers, Cruz hit at a clip of .263/.312/.509 with 29 home runs, 28 doubles and 87 RBI’s.  Cruz then erupted in the 2011 playoffs, hitting eight homers during the Rangers World Series run.

The two-year deal would buy out Cruz’s remaining arbitration eligible seasons.  The 31-year-old would still be projected to hit the free agent market following the 2013 season.

For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Nolan Writin’.

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