SAN DIEGO _ 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 offseason.
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."
Desmond, who reportedly turned down a seven-year, $107 million contract in 2014, said that his focus is on the rest of this season and getting the Rangers, who lead the American League West by 5 { games, to the World Series.
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.
