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Josh Hamilton’s Plan to Donate Much of Next Contract to Charity Changes Possible Landing Spots

Most free agents hit the market looking to make as much money over as many years as possible.

But for Josh Hamilton, going for the big dollars isn’t just about himself — it will also affect how much he can give away.

As teams consider what to spend on Hamilton, some analysts are emphasizing that money and security are just part of the equation. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi pointed back to a Sports Illustrated story about Hamilton from June, when he and his wife talked about his future and what was important to them.

“No, we don’t really care about the money so much for us, but we have huge plans for this money, and, no, it’s not strictly for our bank account,” Katie Hamilton told Sports Illustrated. “It is for a hurting world.”

Katie said the family plans to donate much of Hamilton’s next contract to charity. That caused Rosenthal and Morosi to immediately draw a connection to Pro Athletes Outreach, a charity that works with athletes and is based in a suburb of Seattle.

Katie also said her husband wouldn’t be bound to Texas because of security or the team structure, which has helped Hamilton with his struggles with substance abuse.

“We need Jesus. We need God,” Katie said. “He goes with us wherever we are. Yes, we’re comfortable in Texas. But maybe God hasn’t called us to comfort. I mean, he didn’t call Jesus to comfort.”

The Rangers are said to be looking to make a deal to bring Hamilton back, and the Red Sox and Mariners have also been reported to be in discussions with the slugger. But if what the Hamiltons told Sports Illustrated is true, this could be anyone’s game.