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Report: Red Sox Still ‘in the Mix’ for Josh Hamilton, With Other Teams Reluctant to Offer Long-Term Deal

The longer Josh Hamilton stays on the market, the better the chances are of him landing in Boston.

Hamilton, who went into the offseason looking for a deal of at least six years, has found few teams willing to give him an offer past three or four years. That means the Red Sox, who are reportedly interested in Hamilton to the tune of three years and as much as $25 million a year (his desired range), are still “in the mix,” according to Gordon Edes of ESPN.com.

With other teams unwilling to give Hamilton the longer deal he desires, the Red Sox could have a chance at the slugger, according to Edes.

The Rangers, with whom Hamilton has played since 2008, appear to be the frontrunner. Hamilton has reportedly told the team that it will have the chance to match any offer he gets. But the latest reports show Texas offering Hamilton just four years, meaning he may be willing to look toward other interested clubs, such as Boston or Seattle, to get a deal he prefers.

Hamilton is the biggest free agent on the market this offseason. He drove in 128 runs with 43 home runs with a .285 batting average last year, the third time in the last five years he’s had 30 or more home runs and 100 or more RBIs.