Josh Hamilton

As free agency news and rumors continue to swirl in the MLB offseason, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has said that he would like get a deal done on a contract extension before the 2012 season begins. Hamilton is entering the final year of a two-year, $24 million deal.

With Hamilton anchoring the middle of the lineup, the Rangers have been to back-to-back World Series. He was the 2010 American League MVP. Over the course of four seasons with Texas, Hamilton has hit .311 while averaging 25 home runs and 94 RBIs per season.

“Obviously, I love it here,” Hamilton said Tuesday before speaking to a group of kids at a free hitting exhibition. “It always comes down to being treated fairly. I’ve been this way since I signed out of high school. Treat me fair and don’t come in with no ridiculously low stuff.”

At the winter meetings, Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan said that it is an “ongoing process” to get Hamilton signed long term and that he is not sure what it is going to take to keep the 30-year-old outfielder with the Rangers. But he did not downplay the importance of Hamilton to the organization.

“If we didn’t have him, it would be a big hole in our ballclub,” Ryan said. “You just don’t replace a Josh Hamilton very easily.”