Ian Kinsler's New Deal Is ... Oddly ... Structured

Jeff Wilson:

#Rangers will pay Kinsler $13M in '13, $16M in 2014 and 2015, $14M in 2016 and $11M in 2017. Option for 2018 is $10M with a $5M buyout.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) April 11, 2012

So, if I'm reading this correctly, it's either five years and $75 millon, or six years and $80 million. If true, the sixth year is a veritable no-brainer. 

The odd thing here, though, is the front-loading of the deal, which is relatively unusual if you rifle through many of the guaranteed deals -- high-value or otherwise -- in baseball right now. The progression from $13 million to $16 million for a couple of years to $14 million, and then back down to $11 million in the deal's final guaranteed year, is entirely new to me, and if I had more time on my hands right now, I'd commence the search for a similarly structured deal. Maybe somebody else knows of such a deal, or has a better idea.

There's also this:

Ian Kinsler also gets limited no-trade protection similar to Adrian Beltre's contract. Kinsler gets 10-5 rights during course of deal.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) April 11, 2012

And this from Kinsler, when queried by Evan Grant as to whether he was receptive to a potential move to the outfield a couple of years down the line:

"I think it's definitely possible," Kinsler said. "I don't want to look that far into the future, but I don't see why it would couldn't happen. Whatever it takes to win games. Mike's role right now is extremely valuable to us and anyway I can be of value to this club is important. If that comes about it's definitely something I'm willing to listen to."

I'd make a snarky comment about Kinsler's attitude on positional changes relative to Michael Young's, but such a comment would be verging into redundant territory.