Josh Hamilton vs Texas Rangers: The 2-Year Deal Development

Hamilton, Darren Oliver & Champ unfurl the "It's Time" (for spring training) banner

The Rangers are getting creative in their attempts to avoid arbitration with outfielder Josh Hamilton.  Texas has offered Hamilton a two-year contract in effort to avoid a Valentine's Day date at an arbitration hearing on February 14th.

Hamilton is arbitration eligible both this year and next, so a two-year contract would take care of both seasons.  The Rangers offered the reigning AL MVP $8.7 million for next season while he requested a $12 million salary for 2011.

Dollies and boxes of kettle bells being loaded on the truck

"They (the Rangers) just threw it out there," Hamilton said Monday while movers were loading equipment into moving vans bound for spring training in Surprise, AZ.

"The main focus is one year.  Two-year gets done, that's great plus it takes a little stress off and this situation doesn't have to happen next year."

The man knows he's going to get paid one way or the other.  He's at "peace" with the process and optimistic about whatever happens.

"The talks have gotten better and I feel like we're moving in right direction towards each other so that's a positive."

Another positive is that he's regained the weight he lost while he was hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia in mid-January.  He dropped about 10 pounds when he was sick but has regained all the weight.  He's currently 233 but would like to add about six of seven more pounds.

"Only reason I like to be heavier is because I lose weight playing during the summer months," he said.  "As far as strength and everything, weight doesn't have anything to do with that."