Rangers, Matt Harrison in contract extension talks

The Texas Rangers are in early talks with left-hander Matt Harrison about a contract extension, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

The Rangers and the agents for Matt Harrison have entered into preliminary negotiations on a contract extension for the All-Star left-hander…

"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."

The 27-year-old Harrison posted career-best numbers for the Rangers in 2012, putting up a 3.29 ERA and a 2.25 SO/BB ratio in two hundred thirteen and a third innings; enough to earn him the organization’s Pitcher of the Year award. The big left-hander struggled in his first three seasons with Texas but has really come into his own the two years, putting up eerily similar numbers in 2011 and 2012.

The left-hander has two years of arbitration remaining before he hits the free agent market, but Texas could very well lock him down for a few more years, much like they did with right-hander Derek Holland in March.

The Rangers do not typically finalize contract extensions until spring training so it may be a while until a new deal with Harrison becomes official.