Elvis Andrus has reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $120 million extension which could keep him with the Rangers through the 2023 season, but there’s an interesting wrinkle in the deal.
According to Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest, Andrus will have the right to opt out of the deal after the 2018 season. The 24-year-old shortstop is already under team control through 2014, so the Rangers have bought themselves four years at minimum. Meanwhile, Andrus will have the ability to test the open market after his age-29 season, which is a pretty smart play by agent Scott Boras.
For what it’s worth, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com believes that Andrus will take free agency “unless something catastrophic happens.” On the off-chance that he sticks around, the extension includes a vesting option for a ninth season in 2023.
Andrus owns a .275/.342/.353 batting line over his first four seasons in the majors. He established new career-highs last season in batting average, hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
