The Texas Rangers want to keep their key players around for a while, after having won the first two AL pennants in franchise history. On Wednesday, Elvis Andrus, slick fielding shortstop finalized a 3 year deal with the Texas Rangers. The deal is estimated to be worth $14.4 million. The deal wraps his 3 years of salary arbitration eligibility, and Texas Rangers would like to converse an even longer agreement with agent Scott Boras. Thad Levine, assistant general manager said that the team management would like to sign some of its major players to extensions that do expand into free agency.
Adding further, he said that Elvis is one of the best players Rangers have. He said that he expects Elvis to stay in Texas Rangers for years to come. According to reports, Andrus is expected to get a signing bonus of $750,000 and salaries of $2,375,000 in 2012. Furthermore, in 2013 he is expected to earn $4.8 million whereas in 2014 he is expected to earn $6,475,000. On Thursday, an arbitration hearing has been scheduled. Andrus had requested for $3.6 million, however he was offered $2.65 million. Financial security was very important for him. In a statement, Andrus said that he is very excited. Adding further, he said that it was something he was looking for mainly for his family. In the last year, 23 year old Andrus scored a career best .279 with 37 stolen bases. In2010, Andrus was an all-star. Levine said that Elvis represents everything that the Texas Rangers want.
Furthermore, he said that Andrus is a young talented player who has tons of energy. He said that Andrus has been a big part of the Rangers for the last two playoff runs. Levine said that the player is the backbone of the team as he sets the table for big boppers in the middle. Last October, after twice coming within a strike of the World Series title, the Texas Rangers ended with an empty feeling. Andrus said that his best is still to come.
