Texas Rangers: This Is Not the End of the Josh Hamilton Saga

The Josh Hamilton homecoming with the Texas Rangers appeared destined to be a story of redemption. Instead, it the story may well be over, as the Rangers have requested release waivers on their former star.

The Prodigal Son had returned. Josh Hamilton had come back to the Texas Rangers, the team that turned him into a star before leaving via free agency. And once again, his arrival in Arlington was set to be against the backdrop of overcoming his personal demons. Just as he had overcome his alcohol and drug addictions in the past, Hamilton had once again relapsed, making his return to the Rangers about far more than baseball.

Alas, the second chapter of the heartwarming story was not to be, at least not yet. Hamilton had been relatively solid in his 50 games last season, producing a .253/.291/.441 batting line with eight homers. However, a knee injury sidelined Hamilton at the end of the season, serving as a prelude to missing the entire 2016 campaign. Now, the Rangers have activated him from the 60 day DL, and requested release waivers on the former star.

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This does not necessitate that Hamilton’s time with the Rangers has ended. Earlier in the year, General Manager Jon Daniels reaffirmed the team’s commitment to Hamilton for the 2017 season, which does not appear to have changed. Indeed, Daniels himself called the move procedural in nature, as they needed to release the outfielder in order for him to be eligible to return to the Rangers Major League lineup before May 15 next season.

"“We plan to monitor Josh’s progress as he continues his rehab process and is medically cleared this winter,” GM Jon Daniels explained. “Given the rules in place, releasing him before the end of this month allows us to keep the door open to extending the relationship in the future.”"

Should Hamilton’s rehab go well, Daniels has certainly left the door open for a reunion. Obviously, nothing would be guaranteed, as he would likely need to accept a minor league contract regardless of whatever team he chooses. Yet, that may be the perfect situation for Hamilton, as he would not have any pressure upon him to perform. Instead, he can focus on getting healthy and into baseball shape, while having his support system in place.

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Josh Hamilton’s feel good story with the Texas Rangers may not be over just yet. This may simply be another chapter in the tale, one more obstacle to overcome before Disneyesque ending comes to pass.