Rangers keep in contact with Hamilton

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels is maintaining contact with Josh Hamilton’s agent and said Thursday that the slugger’s free agency process has gone as expected.

“I think the interest has been consistent,” Daniels said. “The process that we agreed to really back in the spring … was that Josh was going to test the market and once he had a sense of that would circle with us, and I think he’s still in that process.”

Speaking on a conference call in advance of next week’s winter meetings, Daniels said that it has worked out well for the Rangers since they are still sorting through some options. But along with that upcoming gathering in Nashville, there are more trades and freeagent signings being made around the league.

“The market’s starting to move,” Daniels said. “I would think things on both Josh’s end as well as on our end, things we’re looking at, I would expect things will start moving a little bit.”

Nationals: The team acquired center fielder Denard Span from Minnesota for minor league pitcher Alex Meyer.

Royals: Right-hander Felipe Paulino agreed to a $1.75 million contract that avoided arbitration, a cut of $150,000. The deal includes $250,000 in performance bonuses.

Braves: B.J. Upton was introduced as the new center fielder after finalizing a $75.25 million, fiveyear contract.

Cubs: Scott Harris, 25, was named director of baseball operations after spending the past two years as Major League Baseball’s coordinator of major league operations.