The Texas Rangers and All-Star pitcher Mike Minor have had talks regarding a potential contract extension, according to Jeff Wilson of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram:

An MLB source said that the Rangers have had preliminary extension talks with Minor’s agent, agent B.B. Abbott, but it is a topic that will be addressed more deeply in the off-season.

Daniels declined comment on the status of any extension talks, but said that he did his best to keep Minor in the loop in the weeks and days leading to July 31.

Minor has had a breakout season in Texas, going 11-6 with a 2.90 ERA and 175 ERA+ (the best in the American League) through his first 24 starts. He also leads all pitchers in bWAR, and ranks third in that category behind Mike Trout and Cody Bellinger.

The Rangers had apparently been listening to offers for Minor leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, but they elected to retain his services, feeling that the additional two years of team control were too valuable to give away.

Minor had a tough four-game stretch to open the second half, but he has thrown 15 scoreless innings in a row after blanking both the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers. He and fellow Rangers starter Lance Lynn are actually the two most valuable starters in baseball, according to bWAR.

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Texas had a very successful first half mostly thanks to the brilliance of Minor and Lynn, going 48-42 and establishing themselves as possible playoff contenders in the AL Wild Card race. However, they have gone just 12-18 since the break, and are out of the playoff picture.

Still, it appears Texas is hoping to make Minor part of their future plans.