Questions surround potential Josh Hamilton trade
By Tim Haberin
Every once in a while a trade occurs that makes us question whether any player is truly “unmovable.” Based on reports that began circulating Friday evening, the baseball world may be on the verge of another such deal.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers are working on a deal to send troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton back to the Lone Star State. It’s a development that has caught more than a few fans by surprise. Hamilton’s problems in recent months have been well-documented. After experiencing an apparent relapse concerning his substance abuse issues, an arbitrator determined that he did not violate his treatment program and could therefore not be suspended by Major League Baseball. The Angels did little to hide their frustration, as a suspension would have saved them significant money on his hefty contract. Owner Arte Moreno even publicly cast doubt on whether Hamilton would don a Halos uniform again.
The Angels would presumably be far more accommodating toward their controversial outfielder if he had been performing even close to what they envisioned in 2012 when they signed him to a five-year, $125 million contract. He has posted just a .741 OPS over his first two seasons with the Angels, down significantly from his years in Texas, particularly his MVP-winning 2010 campaign when he led both leagues with an eye-popping .359 BA, .633 SLG and 1.044 OPS.
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Details remain hazy as the deal is not yet completed, but most reports agree that the Rangers will have to pay very little to reclaim their former star. Some say that L.A. could end up eating as much as $68 million of the $80 million left on Hamilton’s deal. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Hamilton may give up an additional $6 million on his own due to the absence of a state income tax in Texas and receive an opt-out clause after 2016. If there was any doubt, the numbers floating around demonstrate just how desperate the Angels are to rid themselves of Hamilton, paying a divisional foe a considerable sum to take him off their hands.
Despite the potentially minuscule cost to them, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher that Texas would so quickly take Hamilton back. The two sides certainly didn’t split on the best of terms. The fan base grew increasingly (and loudly) impatient with the slugger’s erratic play, prompting Hamilton to declare the Dallas-Ft. Worth area a “football town” on his way out the door.
The Rangers could definitely use a boost, however, especially in their outfield. The team currently sits at the bottom of the American League West with a 6-11 record. Its outfielders are hitting a pitiful .179; only the Reds outfield is performing more poorly at the plate. But of all the ways to improve their outfield, is Josh Hamilton a particularly good option? Off-the-field problems and declining production aside, injuries have also been a legitimate concern for him. He missed 73 games in 2014 and is currently rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. If he’s going to be a factor for any team this year, he’ll require time to get back on the field.
The Rangers may also have viable alternatives available in-house. Outfielder Jared Hoying hit 26 homers and drove in 78 runs for Triple-A Round Rock last season. He is currently batting .293 there in the opening weeks of 2015. Though he typically he isn’t found among top prospect rankings, Hoying could be worth a look from a Rangers team seeking to inject some youth and pop into its outfield.
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Some fans and media like to assume a moral pedestal wherever an issue such as addiction is involved, but the truth is no one, not even Hamilton himself, has any idea how that will play out moving forward. If they finalize the deal, the Rangers are certainly hoping their established history with Hamilton and his personal matters will prove to have a positive effect in terms of getting his career back on track. Statistics suggest that some familiar scenery could indeed be beneficial for the former All-Star. In spite of his L.A. struggles, he has still performed well at Arlington while wearing an Angels uniform, hitting .339 with a homer and 13 RBI in 16 games there over the past two seasons.
In any case, it’s difficult to sympathize with the Angels’ frantic efforts to jettison Josh Hamilton from their roster, as they knew the risks when they signed him. If Hamilton is serious about revitalizing his career, a return to Texas seems like the best possible place for him to do it. This long-running saga appears poised for yet another wrinkle in the coming days.
Stay tuned to Call to the Pen for more coverage and analysis if/when the trade becomes official.