Josh Hamilton is likely to make nine figures in his upcoming free agent deal, but worries about his health and strikeouts persist. (US Presswire)

Josh Hamilton probably wishes Major League Baseball played a 160-game season.

People in baseball like to build up the tension when players in contract years take on big moments in high stakes games. This is a $20 million at-bat. ... He just made a $30 million pitch. As if these games need any artificial build-ups. The premise is sound -- if a player can't produce in championship-winning moments, why would a championhip-seeking team pay him? But C.J. Wilson put up a 5.79 ERA in the 2011 postseason with the Rangers, and the Angels rewarded him with a $77.5 million contract the same winter.

So Hamilton will still get paid. Chances are his dropped fly-ball adventure in Game 162 and his 0-for-4 nightmare against the Orioles in the wild-card game didn't cost him much at the negotiating table. Perhaps a chance at greater playoff glory could have raised the stakes, but no guarantee.

Instead, teams get until five days after the World Series -- the extent of the Rangers' exclusive window with Hamilton that the club will let pass -- to decide what Hamilton's expected performance warrants on the open market. Over the last three seasons, Hamilton has enjoyed relative health and torched the American League. His .952 OPS ranks fourth behind Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto and Jose Bautista since 2010; adjusting for hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Hamilton's 146 OPS+ ranks eighth -- also behind Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and David Ortiz.

None of those guys are free agents. The next-best free-agent hitter is Melky Cabrera (38th overall, 120 OPS+) -- with obvious baggage -- and the third-best is B.J. Upton (59th, 110 OPS+). If teams want established superstar talent, it's Hamilton or bust.

As such, Hamilton seems guaranteed to get a nine-figure deal at this point. His skill -- the kind that racks up a 40-homer season even as offense goes to die around the league -- requires nitpicking in order to put a ceiling on his pay.

Two particular blemishes will linger: strikeouts and health. Hamilton struck out in over a quarter of his trips to the plate in 2012, by far a career high. Low contact rates lead to low batting averages (and on-base percentages and slugging percentage rates). Even though Hamilton was at a solid .285 average this season, the strikeouts kept him from leveraging his superb power showing -- a career high in home runs by 11 and a .292 Isolated Power (ISO) -- into a season like his 2010 MVP campaign. This year, Hamilton hit .284/.354/.577; in 2010, he struck out 64 percent as often and hit .359/.411/.633. Without a return to the contact rates that he showed early in his career, the Hamilton of 2010 -- the one that appeared to be a $200 million player -- will not be back.

Although Hamilton has enjoyed relative health -- he hasn't suffered any season-destroying ailments -- he has had his dings. He hasn't played in 150 games since 2008, playing in 133, 121 and 148 the past three seasons. Durability concerns go beyond pure games played numbers as well -- how long until Hamilton is forced to move to first base? To DH? Can he even play center field for one more year, or is he already just a left fielder?

A report from CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman suggests the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers will all be out of the market. The Rangers aren't even putting in a preliminary bid, choosing to react rather than act. A horrible finish. Strikeouts. Durability concerns. Aging concerns. Position concerns. The baggage of his issues surrounding addiction. Has a superstar ever had more going against him heading into free agency?

Still, Hamilton is an All-Star level player. Fielder and Pujols each made at least $20 million per season, Hamilton will likely settle in the range of $20 million-$25 million per season with his big payday. The difference between Hamilton's contract and those that Fielder and Pujols received will be the years. Hamilton will turn 32 early next season. Does anybody want to pay him until he's 40? 39? 38? The concerns will scream at any GM to swim that far into the deep end and, as such, it's difficult to see Hamilton pulling in a contract worth more than five years, $125 million -- a massive bargain should Hamilton rediscover his 2010 MVP form, but a huge gamble as well.