3:02pm: Hamilton earns $7.25MM in 2011, $13.75MM in 2012 and a $3MM signing bonus, according to Grant (on Twitter). The Rangers will pay Hamilton's signing bonus in two $1.5MM installments.
1:01pm: The Rangers agreed to sign Josh Hamilton to a two-year, $24MM deal, avoiding arbitration. Hamilton had filed for $12MM in arbitration this year, while the Rangers countered with $8.7MM.
Hamilton earned $3.25MM last year in his first season as an arbitration eligible player. He won the AL MVP, a Silver Slugger and the batting title in 2010, though he battled a variety of injuries along the way. Hamilton missed most of September with a ribcage injury, but finished the season with a sparkling .359/.411/.633 line and 32 homers.
The contract buys out the Moye/Sanderson client's final two seasons of arbitration eligibility, but does not delay his free agency. Like Joey Votto, last year's NL MVP, Hamilton signed an extension that covers only his remaining arbitration years.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News first reported the agreement (on Twitter) and Jon Heyman of SI.com reported the value of the contract (Twitter link).
This brings a smile to my face
Never heard of him.
Who is this guy? Isn’t he some recovering drug addict?
fail
He looks nothing like Charlie Sheen..
lmao
Or Ron Washington.
cocaines a hell of a drug
Cocaine is God’s way of telling you you have too much money.
And you know how to have too much fun
Or that you’re an “artist.”
low blow. he’s also the reigning al mvp
Heh… he said “blow”.
I’m offended too. That man thinks Hamilton is simply a drug addict! Sir, he plays major league baseball too!!! This game is no joking matter!
Next year he will make 4 Million less than Michael Young…
Just saying.
7 now lol
I guess the Rangers were pretty sure they were going to lose their hearing, otherwise they didn’t really gain much from this.
consider this though lets assume they lost the hearing and paid im 12 this year through arb, that means he would be in for an even bigger arb pay day next season assuming he can be healthy enough to put a season close to what he did last…If he does another monster year then its a great deal because he could get even more than 12 mill next season in arb
No not logic!
Why? Is Hamilton THAT loud of a talker?
I hear he spits when he talks too.
do we know what the distribution is yet? if its 9 and 13 or something, then yes, those are on the low end of the next two years of arb if he has another strong year.
Fail of the year. 9 + 13 = 22
I sort of gree with you. Consider his propensities towards injuries, why not just settle with him for the 1/$12 mil? Sure there’s a risk he may make a little more next year but at least protect yourself. It would be tough for him, or anyone to repeat what he did last year.
And if you are going to go beyong this year then why not really go strong and buy out a FA year or two?
He won’t sign past his arb years as he will only get one big contract. He is not like the younger guys that can afford to have 2 extra years signed for. He turns 30 this year making his first free agent year agent almost 32. sign off on 2 of those years and he is 34 and misses that 100 mil contract based strictly on how long people would sign him for.
I’d make like Roger Daltrey and call that a Bargain
great deal, good for Hamilton. For all those hamilton haters i suggest you read his autobiography “Beyond Belief” it was one of the best books ive ever read and its amazing what he went through.
You mean what he put himself through?
Wow. Someone with an intelligent reply here. Much appreciated, Tyler. Thank you
JD did good. One less thing to worry about this season. Now to deal with the MY problem…
This thread is hilarious and I’m not going to make a paltry attempt to add to the hilarity, I’ll just say that if he stays healthy this is a fair contract and if not, the Rangers took a chance and sometimes that’s all you can do, is take a chance.
It’s not hilarity. It’s called obnoxiousness. There is a huge difference. Unfortunately, there’s so much of the latter, on the internet especially, that it gets confused as something funny at times.
See what kind of a cramp this puts in Jose Bautista’s arbitration case.
I doubt Jbau forgoes any years of free agency for a 2 year deal.
This is a huge win for the Rangers, Hamilton has a great bat and makes Nelson Cruz better with plate protection, they should of locked him up for more years though, like a 5 year deal at around the same AAV, he will only be more expensive barring any injury.
How does Hamilton provide Cruz with protection? Cruz bats after him.
He meant after the game. He protects him when they are hanging out. White guys with afros are scary, beleive it or not.
Fair to say Hamilton tops the list as current five tool players in the game? I can’t think of anyone ahead of him.
Of course there’s CarGo. But can’t go wrong with either choice it seems to me.
You win
..and about the same as Antonio Cromartie’s and Evander Holyfield’s baby mamas.
You sure? How bout 8 million less than Barry Zito and same as Aaron Rowand
More like AA and ultimately Wells win.
Looks like he picked the right day to quit amphetamines.
hah, good call
True….Renteria earned 9 mill per HR in the world series.
no need to be a jacka$$. read it then come talk to me. it proves the worst can happen to some of the best people.
He quit those things?
…and everyone knows you pay Renteria to hit homers in the world series.