FORT WORTH, Texas — Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says he’s maintained contact with Josh Hamilton’s agent, and the slugger’s free agency process has gone as expected so far.

Daniels said Thursday that the plan had always been for Hamilton, a Raleigh native and former Athens Drive High standout, to test the market and then “once he had a sense of that, would circle back with us.”

While Hamilton is still doing that, Daniels says it has worked out since the Rangers are still sorting through some of their options.

With some trades and free-agent signings now being made around the league, and the winter meetings coming up next week, Daniels expects that things will start “moving a little bit” for both Hamilton and the Rangers.

Hamilton hit a career-high 43 home runs last season in Texas.

Elsewhere

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs have hired Scott Harris as their director of baseball operations.

Harris, 25, spent the past two years as Major League Baseball’s coordinator of major league operations. He provided transaction support and analysis to teams.

Kansas City: Right-hander Felipe Paulino and the Royals have agreed to a $1.75 million contract that avoided salary arbitration, a cut of $150,000.

The deal contains $250,000 in performance bonuses.

Tampa Bay: The Rays have re-signed outfielder Rich Thompson to a minor league contract.

The team also announced that five other players – infielder Mike Fontenot, right-handed pitchers Matt Buschmann and Will Inman, first baseman Nick Weglarz and infielder Shawn O’Malley – also agreed to minor league deals that include invitations to major league spring training.

Washington: The Nationals acquired Denard Span from the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Alex Meyer.