MLB Should Tread Lightly with Josh Hamilton
By Jon Flint
Did the frustration of under-performing on his $125 million contract lead Josh Hamilton to a drug relapse? If so, MLB has no business suspending him for more than 25 games. Like it or not, what is best for business is an exception to policy.
On the outset it seems Hamilton’s latest slip warrants a lengthy ban
We as adults should be held responsible for our choices, good and bad. Hamilton has made his fair share of bad decisions and always paid his dues. He served season-long suspensions in 2004 and 2006, but has kept his nose clean since getting his career back on track in 2007.
On the outset it seems Hamilton’s latest slip warrants a lengthy ban; however, under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (JDA), this may not necessarily be the case. Hamilton entered MLB’s drug treatment program in 2003 and then violated the terms of the program four times after. Now, in his fifth violation, Josh Hamilton is subject to penalty governed by Section 7.D of the JDA which states:
"“Any subsequent failure to comply by a Player shall result in the Commissioner imposing further discipline on the Player. The level of the discipline will be determined consistent with the concept of progressive discipline.”"
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Some initial reports of his relapse suggested Hamilton could be treated as a first time offender of the JDA, something we now know is inaccurate. Hamilton should be treated for what he is — a multiple offender. But while he’s violated the drug policy five times, the burden is on the Commissioner to treat this situation different from any other. As much as Rob Manfred is responsible for protecting the policies of MLB, he also has a responsibility to act within the best interest of players. We should agree that addiction is an ailment and instead of viewing this in the same light as PED use, Manfred has to treat Hamilton’s relapse as a health issue.
If Josh Hamilton’s struggles with productivity and injuries were the cause of this drug relapse, then a lengthy ban does more harm than good. Hamilton is again in need of redemption, redemption as a ballplayer and as a person. He’ll likely spend time in drug rehab to work on himself, but obviously Hamilton needs to be on the field in order to turn around his statistics.
MLB cannot excuse his breaking the rules by avoiding suspension, but it is within their best interest to get Hamilton back onto the field as soon as possible. Hamilton overcoming his personal demons has always been a great story for MLB to share with their fans and younger players. Now embroiled in the latest chapter, it’s important for MLB to help Josh Hamilton achieve the happy end we all want to see.