Rangers, Cruz agree two-year deal

The Texas Rangers and Nelson Cruz agreed on a $16 million contract that will keep the slugging outfielder with the Rangers for two more Major League Baseball seasons.

Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, pictured in 2011, has signed a $16 mn two-year deal.

In a story posted on the team's website, Rangers executive Thad Levine says the team is willing to discuss a longer-term contract.

Cruz himself said he was happy to agree to terms and avoid salary arbitration.

"Everything is great," Cruz said on a conference call to discuss the deal.

"We wanted to take care of this first," Cruz said. "That was the priority. I want to stay with the Rangers and that's something we'll decide later on."

Cruz, 31, hit .263 in 2011 with 29 home runs and 87 runs batted in.

He was Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series, in which he hit a playoff-series record six home runs with 13 RBIs to help Texas beat Detroit and reach the World Series for the second straight year.

Although the Rangers have been to Major League Baseball's championship series two seasons running, they have yet to lift the title. Last season they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals.

They had lost to San Francisco in the 2010 World Series.

"It has been difficult," Cruz acknowledged of the disappointments. "You always want to finish your goal, especially when you go to the World Series in back-to-back years. We didn't make it so now we have to get over it."