Tim Cowlishaw column
Now that the Rangers and Angels have finished playing each other, they should take the next step. And that's talking to each other.
About Josh Hamilton.
It's not out of the question. It's not crazy. Certain aspects of a Hamilton-back-to-Texas deal make a lot of sense.
There are three things to consider here: What it would do for the Rangers if they, say, agreed to take on $10 million of Hamilton's salary each of the next three years; what that would do for Angels management which clearly wants to get rid of him and what it would do for Josh.
Let's start with the easy part.
For Hamilton, it would provide a kick-start to the final chapter of his major league career. You think he can't handle an apology for his remarks about this being a football town? You think he hasn't dragged himself into and out of holes a hell of a lot worse in his life?
Hamilton still has the house here. He has a ballpark that conjures the finest memories of his career here. Even in 2012, when fans booed him during the one-game playoff with Baltimore after he had sat and slumped his way through September, Hamilton was fifth in the AL MVP voting.
He would consider a trade to Texas, literally, a gift from God.
Let's move on to the Angels. Owner Arte Moreno, the man who gave Hamilton the five-year $125 million contract when his baseball people were telling him "no," can't stand Hamilton now. He refused to even confirm to reporters last week that Hamilton would play for the Angels when he is done rehabbing a shoulder injury, presumably next month. He has had Hamilton's locker removed.
The Angels owe Hamilton $83 million from now through 2017. The contract is guaranteed. The club may contend that his relapse this spring voids the contract, but given that Hamilton's addiction struggles are covered in baseball's collective bargaining agreement, the Angels won't win.
So their options are to watch him struggle or pay him to do nothing or release him and pay the full weight of the contract or trade him. There won't be a lot of takers out there. But why shouldn't the Rangers be one?
Rangers manager Jeff Banister has been saddled with a virtually powerless outfield. The trio of Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski and Carlos Peguero - all battling for one spot, essentially - have zero home runs in 43 at-bats. It's not like Shin-Soo Choo and Leonys Martin bring legitimate power to the other outfield spots.
What could Hamilton reasonably be expected to hit here?
Well, he's not going to reprise his 2010 MVP season. But examine what he did for two years in Anaheim which were, by and large, considered a disaster. When healthy in 2013, he delivered 21 home runs, 79 RBIs and a .250 average. That's not what the Angels thought they were getting for an average of $25 million per year, to be sure.
But take those numbers and inflate them for playing 81 home games here as opposed to a much more pitcher-friendly Anaheim park. On a team with a real lack of hitting, those numbers would be welcome.
Now that the Rangers and Angels have finished playing each other, they should take the next step. And that's talking to each other.
About Josh Hamilton.
It's not out of the question. It's not crazy. Certain aspects of a Hamilton-back-to-Texas deal make a lot of sense.
There are three things to consider here: What it would do for the Rangers if they, say, agreed to take on $10 million of Hamilton's salary each of the next three years; what that would do for Angels management which clearly wants to get rid of him and what it would do for Josh.
Let's start with the easy part.
For Hamilton, it would provide a kick-start to the final chapter of his major league career. You think he can't handle an apology for his remarks about this being a football town? You think he hasn't dragged himself into and out of holes a hell of a lot worse in his life?
Hamilton still has the house here. He has a ballpark that conjures the finest memories of his career here. Even in 2012, when fans booed him during the one-game playoff with Baltimore after he had sat and slumped his way through September, Hamilton was fifth in the AL MVP voting.
He would consider a trade to Texas, literally, a gift from God.
Let's move on to the Angels. Owner Arte Moreno, the man who gave Hamilton the five-year $125 million contract when his baseball people were telling him "no," can't stand Hamilton now. He refused to even confirm to reporters last week that Hamilton would play for the Angels when he is done rehabbing a shoulder injury, presumably next month. He has had Hamilton's locker removed.
The Angels owe Hamilton $83 million from now through 2017. The contract is guaranteed. The club may contend that his relapse this spring voids the contract, but given that Hamilton's addiction struggles are covered in baseball's collective bargaining agreement, the Angels won't win.
So their options are to watch him struggle or pay him to do nothing or release him and pay the full weight of the contract or trade him. There won't be a lot of takers out there. But why shouldn't the Rangers be one?
Rangers manager Jeff Banister has been saddled with a virtually powerless outfield. The trio of Ryan Rua, Jake Smolinski and Carlos Peguero - all battling for one spot, essentially - have zero home runs in 43 at-bats. It's not like Shin-Soo Choo and Leonys Martin bring legitimate power to the other outfield spots.
What could Hamilton reasonably be expected to hit here?
Well, he's not going to reprise his 2010 MVP season. But examine what he did for two years in Anaheim which were, by and large, considered a disaster. When healthy in 2013, he delivered 21 home runs, 79 RBIs and a .250 average. That's not what the Angels thought they were getting for an average of $25 million per year, to be sure.
But take those numbers and inflate them for playing 81 home games here as opposed to a much more pitcher-friendly Anaheim park. On a team with a real lack of hitting, those numbers would be welcome.
