Rangers, Desmond to talk extension after season

The Texas Rangers are planning to discuss a contract extension with All-Star center fielder Ian Desmond, but any negotiations will wait until after the season and before he hits free agency for the second straight off-season.

General manager Jon Daniels said that there is interest in keeping Desmond, who signed a one-year deal worth $8 million in late February after languishing on the free-agent market because of draft-pick compensation attached to signing him.

“We’d be crazy not to want to continue the relationship,” Daniels said. “At the same time, we’ve got a good thing going on with the team, and no one involved wants a distraction. We all agree that it’s best to lay low, and, if and when we talk, to handle it privately.”

He did say that he is enjoying this season with the Rangers.

“I’m having a great time here,” Desmond said.

Should the Rangers and Desmond be unable to reach an extension, Delino DeShields, Lewis Brinson, Ryan Cordell and Jared Hoying are the internal candidates the Rangers could look toward to replace Desmond in 2017.

Hamels’ security delay

Left-hander Cole Hamels is an All-Star, a native of San Diego and a former World Series MVP.

None of those things, though, could help get the Rangers’ ace past security and into Petco Park for the 87th All-Star Game in a timely fashion Tuesday afternoon.

Hamels had just finished the annual red-carpet parade through the Gaslamp Quarter and helped his wife take their three children to the bus reserved for players’ families. The nearest entrance to the ballpark was the one players used Monday, so Hamels went there.

“They were not open and did not want to open,” he said.

Hamels was told that he had to use another entrance on the other side of the stadium, where the media enters. When he arrived there, he was told he needed a credential to enter beyond his MLB-issued player’s card.

Not even explaining that he was actually playing in the game got him a pass through the gates.

Finally, after a series of phone calls, Hamels was granted entry after a 30-minute ordeal and strolled into the AL clubhouse as players were heading out for batting practice.

“There was no talking,” Hamels said. “I figured it was the shortest walk. Mathematically, I thought it was the quickest route.”

Hamels’ entry issues came only hours after an early-morning fall in his hotel room that resulted in a cut to his chin that required eight stitches. He had to be driven to an area hospital and said that he got only two hours’ sleep.

Maddux difference

Ace right-handers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg credited former Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux in helping the Washington Nationals’ pitching staff post MLB’s best ERA (3.29) entering the All-Star break.

Maddux was often praised by Rangers pitchers for the scouting reports and game plans he provided each game, and he stressed to pitchers that they throw each pitch with conviction.

Scherzer said that Maddux has continued that work in his first year with the Nationals.

“He holds everybody accountable for what they do on the mound,” Scherzer said. “You have to own every pitch that you decide to throw and every decision you make.

“He’s very prepared. He puts in as much work as any pitching coach in making sure we’re prepared. He expects you to know it so that when you go out there you’re prepared.”

Strasburg said that Maddux has kept an open mind when it comes to mechanics. He makes suggestions but also listens to suggestions a pitcher might have.

“That’s been such a good feeling to go out there and know that when you’re working with him, you can do what you want,” Strasburg said. “I think if you have a chance to experiment on things, you might come up with a pitch that could make you a Hall of Famer some day. That’s always fun to have that aspect, because it is like an art form.”

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Rangers, Desmond to talk extension after season."