The Josh Hamilton saga could end soon for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels are close to trading the troubled 33-year-old outfielder back to the Texas Rangers, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan first reported Friday. Multiple outlets quickly confirmed the news, with Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reporting the teams are discussing players and money, not a straight Hamilton salary dump, in a possible deal.
Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto and Hamilton’s representatives were in negotiations that could end in the outfielder departing the organization within 72 hours, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a source. According to the Times, the Angels wanted Hamilton to report to their Arizona training facility as he recovers from shoulder surgery he had in February, but the slugger didn’t want that.
Hamilton currently is staying in Houston, where he met with some Angels players and coaches last week.
Hamilton left the Rangers before the 2013 season to sign a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels. He’s owed $83 million through 2017, although the Angels could save some of that money in a trade. Hamilton, who has struggled in his Angels tenure, was an All-Star in all five seasons he spent in Texas, hitting .305 with 142 home runs and 506 RBIs while reaching two World Series.
Hamilton, who has fought substance abuse for years, admitted in February that he had suffered a relapse. An arbitrator ruled earlier this month that Hamilton couldn’t be suspended for it, upsetting both the Angels and Major League Baseball.
Hamilton also filed for divorce from Katie, his wife of 11 years, and put his $16.5 million Southern California mansion up for sale.
UPDATE (8 p.m. ET): Alden Gonzalez, MLB.com’s Angels writer, and Bill Shakin of the Times both reported that the Angels will not receive any players in the proposed deal. Instead, the Angels will save “around $15 million” in Hamilton’s salary, sources told Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan.
Thumbnail photo by Al Behrman/Associated Press
