The drama between the Los Angeles Angels and Josh Hamilton is about to reach its end. As first reported by MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are close to a deal that would bring back their former outfielder, who left for Anaheim via free agency after the 2012 season.
Rangers are close to trading for Josh Hamilton…. still a lot of legal work to be done… likely announced on Mondat sources say
— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) April 24, 2015
Evidently, this moved very fast as Sullivan tweeted just five minutes earlier that sources told him Texas was willing to take Hamilton back. But he hadn’t yet heard about any sort of deal being in the works. Obviously, word of the Rangers’ willingness to make a trade for the 33-year-old was the precursor to a deal being done.
The relationship between Hamilton and the Angels had become extremely strained ever since the outfielder turned himself into MLB, admitting that he suffered a drug and alcohol relapse. Whether or not Hamilton would then be suspended for violating baseball’s drug program became an issue that took more than a month to resolve. Eventually, an independent arbitrator ruled that Hamilton did not break the terms of his treatment program established by MLB and thus should not be suspended.
Yet the Angels were reluctant to welcome their embattled slugger back to the team. Owner Arte Moreno was clearly hoping that Hamilton would be suspended, thus allowing the team to not pay him while he served his penalty. Since signing a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels, Hamilton has been a significant disappointment. During his first two seasons in Anaheim, he compiled a .255/.316/.426 triple-slash average with 31 home runs and 123 RBI, appearing in just 240 games while battling assorted injuries.
Making matters worse, Hamilton was set to miss all of spring training and the first few weeks of the season after aggravating shoulder and rib cage injuries while ramping up his workouts. The shoulder injury required surgery to repair his A/C joint, a procedure that was going to sideline him for six to eight weeks. Three weeks later, reports of a relapse with cocaine and alcohol began to circulate.
After the ruling that Hamilton wouldn’t be suspended, the Angels made it clear that they didn’t agree with the decision. General manager Jerry Dipoto released a statement that was anything but sympathetic toward someone that was obviously dealing with some very serious personal issues.
The Angels have serious concerns about Josh’s conduct, health and behavior and we are disappointed that he has broken an important commitment which he made to himself, his family, his teammates and our fans. We are going to do everything possible to assure he receives proper help for himself and for the well-being of his family.
The statement didn’t go over well with Hamilton’s teammates, who — along with virtually everyone else who read the release — viewed the organization’s stance as harsh and unyielding. Pitcher C.J. Wilson said the statement was “disheartening,” commending him for coming forward and admitting fault, a view that was reportedly shared throughout the Angels’ clubhouse.
Perhaps ownership and the front office felt that a tough-love approach was necessary at this point with Hamilton. But the Angels’ treatment of Hamilton seemed even more cruel after the Dallas Morning News reported that he was getting a divorce from his wife, Katie. Hamilton had filed for the divorce in February, around the same time he relapsed.
OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 24: Josh Hamilton #32 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is congratulated by Mike Trout #27 in the dugout after hitting a two run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at O.co Coliseum on August 24, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
Here at The Outside Corner, Scott Allen raised the point that we likely don’t know the entire story of the tensions between Hamilton and the team. Why had a franchise that had previously shown sympathy toward underperforming players with big contracts suddenly decided to take such a hard stance? Maybe this wasn’t just about the $83 million remaining on Hamilton’s deal. Was it possible that Hamilton had alienated himself from both his teammates and the upper organization?
What is plainly apparent is that the Angels wanted to get rid of Hamilton. Prior to Sullivan breaking news of the trade, rumors of a possible contract buyout or trade to the Diamondbacks (which Hamilton reportedly balked at) were circulating throughout the baseball Twittersphere. And Anaheim is reportedly getting no players in return from Texas in this deal.
Though we’ll surely all want to know just how and why the Angels’ relationship with Hamilton deteriorated so badly, the reported deal to the Rangers will render that a moot point. Though Hamilton had seemingly burned some bridges with fans in Texas, Arlington is where he had his greatest success as a major leaguer, winning an AL MVP award in 2010, making five All-Star teams and notching three seasons in which he hit more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI.
More importantly, it’s with the Rangers that he had the support system he may have been lacking in Anaheim. As it turns out, that may have been far more vital to Hamilton’s well-being than a $125 million contract, something both the Angels and Hamilton likely realize all too well now.
Knowing the issues that Hamilton is struggling with, I don’t know if anyone isn’t rooting for him to turn his life around, regardless of whether or not he returns to being the superstar baseball player we once watched. Sure, he could still be a disappointment on the baseball field if he doesn’t produce. But if he’s happy, living clean and able to deal with his addictions among an organization and fanbase that once loved him, that’s something we should continually applaud.
UPDATE: According to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan, the Angels are agreeing to pay more than 80 percent of Hamilton’s remaining salary to make this deal happen.
Sources: Rangers are expected to pay around $15M of Josh Hamilton’s salary. He’s due more than $80M through 2017. Angels pay the difference.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 24, 2015
