The Texas Rangers are interested in locking up their core players and that includes left-handed starting pitcher Matt Harrison, who the team has entered preliminary contract extension talks with, according to Jeff Wilson of The Star-Telegram.

At 26 years of age, Harrison is coming off of a career season in which the southpaw tossed more than 213 innings in 32 starts while posting a 3.29 ERA and 2.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. All four of those numbers are personal bests for Harrison, who is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason.

"We've touched base with all the guys we want to extend," Daniels said Nov. 8. "Harry's one of them. He's earned that conversation."

After being named to the All-Star team in 2012, Harrison could become the third starting pitcher for the Rangers that is locked up long-term. Texas currently has Derek Holland under team control through 2018 and ace Yu Darvish through 2017.