T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that Josh Hamilton and the Rangers “are making progress towards settling his contract situation so that they will not have to go to an arbitration hearing” and “have discussed a two-year contract.”
Hamilton is arbitration eligible both this season and next, so a two-year deal would simply give the Rangers some cost certainty without impacting his ability to become a free agent following the 2012 season.
Hamilton requested a $12 million salary following his MVP-winning season, while the Rangers submitted a figure of $8.7 million. The two sides have a hearing scheduled for February 14 if they can’t come to an agreement before then.