The Texas Rangers finally made the move I have been waiting on more than any other. The Rangers came to an agreement on a five-year extension with Derek Holland that could keep the pitcher in Texas until 2018.

Holland’s extension is a five year deal worth $28 million and the two sides signed the deal on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The deal runs through 2016 with option years in 2017 and 2018.

After the 2011 World Series, I wanted more than anything to get Holland signed to a new deal. I didn’t care if they got rid of C.J. Wilson because I believe that Derek Holland is the future ace of the team. I hear a lot about how no one feels there is a great pitcher on this year’s team but I disagree.

When Yu Darvish works out his kinks this spring and gets used to the American differences in the game, he should be a great pitcher. While that is me making an educated guess, I have no doubt at all that Holland will be something special for years to come.

Holland came up to the Rangers’ major league squad in 2009 and finished the season 8-13 with a 6.12 ERA. In 2010, as the Rangers were on the way to their way to their first ever World Series appearance, Holland finished with a 3-4 record with a 4.08 ERA. In the postseason, he struggled, going 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts.

However, in 2011 he had it all figured out. He credited his strength coaches in helping him build the strength to make it through the entire season healthy but credit also has to go to Mike Maddux, who helped turn him into a star.

Holland finished the 2011 regular season with a 16-5 record and a 3.95 ERA. He finished the postseason with a 2-0 record in four starts with a 3.38 ERA. In the World Series, he started the fourth game and finished with a shutout, He also came in for relief two games later and gave up his only run of the series. He finished with a 0.87 ERA.

Holland is the first player since spring started that Texas has worked out a long term agreement with, and in my opinion, is the most important.

Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Texas Rangers fan his entire life, watching the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate play for over 30 years. While Texas has moved their Triple-A team, Shawn still remains a loyal Rangers fan and awaits the year they finally win the big one.

Source: MLB.COM

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The Texas Rangers took their first major step toward locking up their core players as they signed left-hander Derek Holland to a five-year deal.

The contract, which runs through the 2016 season, also includes club options in 2017 and 2018.

The Rangers began discussing a deal with Holland in December but the talks stalled.

Holland is coming off a breakout season in 2011. In his first full year in the Texas rotation, Holland went 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA. Holland, 25, dazzled the country in his last start in Game 4 of the World Series. He pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings against St. Louis.

The Rangers began discussing a deal with Holland in December but the talks stalled.

Holland’s regular season also included four shutouts, the most by a Texas pitcher since 1981. Holland, who made the Opening Day roster for the first time last year, was drafted in the 25th round by the Rangers in the 2006 draft.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels said going into the offseason that locking up core players would be an offseason priority. Holland marks the first player the Rangers have signed this offseason that includes free-agent years.