The Rangers have been talking to several of their core players about contract extensions this offseason, but Josh Hamilton told Jeff Wilson of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the door for a new deal is only open until Spring Training (Twitter link). He does want to remain in Texas long-term, but apparently does not want to negotiate while preparing for the season.
Hamilton, 30, is scheduled to become a free agent after earning $13.75MM in 2012 as part of the two-year, $24MM contract he signed last winter. He's hit a stout .311/.366/.541 during his four years with the Rangers, but only once in his five-year career has he stayed healthy enough to appear in more than 133 games. A full, healthy season with typical Hamilton production figures to have his agent eyeing Jayson Werth (seven years, $126MM) and Carl Crawford (seven years, $142MM) money on the open market next offseason.
6/120 with a cocaine clause?
can they extend him, get darvish, and prince?
Then move to New York? I don’t think it’s possible to make all of those moves. I can see 2 out of 3 and no idea which plan is most likely, probably Darvish and Hamilton.
DFW is a pretty big market ya know… football may be the only sport that will sell out with a bad team, but they’ll embrace a good baseball team.
The “rivalry” with the Astros should make Texas baseball more interesting. Let’s hope to see the Stros do anything in the next 4 years.
We won’t know until Darvish signs. There is no doubt that Josh would have to give the Rangers a discount, which i’m sure he’s more than willing to do, but only for so much. If other teams offer him $120M the Rangers would at least have to counter with $110M to keep him. I don’t think he’ll get $120M on the FA market though.
I hope something can be worked out, but then there’s Kinsler to re-sign also, which is just as important.
Yes it’s possible. Rich owners, huge attendance last two season, big tv deal coming, and a few big contracts coming of the books soon. All three could be had. It just depends on if JD would want to risk it on an injury risk in Hamilton and if Hamilton is willing to find a reasonable middle ground for both sides.
Yes it’s possible. Rich owners, huge attendance last two season, big tv deal coming, and a few big contracts coming of the books soon. All three could be had. It just depends on if JD would want to risk it on an injury risk in Hamilton and if Hamilton is willing to find a reasonable middle ground for both sides.
Unlikely probably, but I wouldn’t rule it out completely.
Someone’s gotta give. In total, you’re looking at $100M (including $51M+ signing bonus) for Darvish, $120M+ for Fielder, and Hamilton at around $100M+. They could if they get creative with Fielder, but there’s no way I see that happening. Hamilton would also have to throw them a short deal with more money or a huge hometown discount, which is a possibility. Darvish isn’t budging, I don’t think. There’s very little chance of 1 of those 3 things happening, let alone for all 3 to happen.
Werth and Crawford were firts year busts, sign now Josh!
They weren’t MVPs for a reason. I wouldn’t put Josh in the same category as them…though I’m also not saying he should be paid their kind of money.
Nats must have Prince. Either Prince or Votto. Ted Lerner isn’t getting any younger at 86
It’s true, Votto would be the better long term option but you would have to give up four plus prospects
Reds are going for it this year, no chance they trade Votto unless the Nationals are literally willing to give them anything they want.
Votto isn’t going to have this few of bidders. Prince has been in Pujols’ shadow and they need to take advantage of it. I can’t see Votto getting less than $150M, depending on the years, but I could see Prince Fielder well under that.
quick sign hamilton before he gets hurts again
Hamilton off the market means an even less interesting offseason than I thought on the free agent front next year…
His agent will eye Werth and Crawford money deals. Teams will eye Werth and Crawford disappointments.
Hamilton should get 5 years/$100 million with a clause in his contract that for all the time he’s on the DL or playing injured or has to go back to rehab, he loses extremely significant portions of the contract, like $100,000 per day on the DL or $250,000 per game he plays injured, etc.. So, if he plays up to his potential, he gets paid what he’s worth when healthy and if he can’t play, they don’t pay him. I honestly don’t see anything else working because he wants guaranteed money and years and teams want a healthy productive Hamilton, but don’t know how often or how long they’ll get that for if they were to sign him.
There’s no way he signs that. He leaves Texas before he signs that.
You can’t take away money from him for playing hurt. That is one of the absolute worst things I’ve ever heard. You want to punish him for playing the game he loves and trying to help his team EVEN THOUGH HE IS INJURED? That is terrible…
There isn’t a player in the league that would agree to that (of Hamilton’s caliber). It’s not his fault that he gets injured, he does it busting his hump to make plays. Your proposal sounds like a punishment for playing too hard.
That wouldn’t come close to being approved by the player’s union. You build bonuses into a contract for ABs or games played. Injury is a risk you have to assume. Teams also buy insurance policies to cover losses on injuries.
Clause in his contract? That’s ridiculous. He’s one of the best hitting OFs with an MVP in his trophy case and you think $100M and/or 5 years is good enough, not to mention a clause? That’s what incentives are for in the first place. However, if you’re putting incentives into a $100M deal, you shouldn’t be doing that in the first place. Shows no confidence in the player. You do that on $10M deals or under, not $100M.
If Werth can get $126M, Hamilton can too if the market is right. Texas is as good a place as any.
I hope that the Rangers don’t sign him… he’d be a good fit at Safeco.
Oddly enough it usually takes money to sign free agents.
What you think the Mariners dont have the money?
They may have money, but they don’t have enough to make playing for that team attractive enough.
Washington and Seattle should pool their money together and buy Yankee letterhead.
What you think the Mariners dont have the money?
As much talent as any offensive player and also as much risk for injury.
So i guess ranger fans are only going to bring up hamilton postseason numbers if he signs elsewhere
Nope, nobody here will hate Hamilton if he leaves here. CJ never gained the respect of the fans here that Hamilton has. CJ’s two postseasons were aweful. That’s one reason why he’s not a Ranger right now.
Hamiltons two postseasons were just as bad
There’s a difference. Hamilton actually shows up for the postseason, until the World Series (which sucks). But CJ completely disappears once September rolls around.
Hamilton sucked in the alds and pretty much ever series hes been in except for one
I think the injury risk is overstated. This isn’t Mark Prior here. The injury this year was a freak accident. He played in 156 games in 08, 09 was his injured year, he was the MVP in 10 and then this year.
Some of his big DL injuries may be fluky, but his injury history goes far deeper than that. He is constantly playing with significant nagging injuries, such as his knees which have had multiple cortisone shots and could be a significant problem within any contract.
In the MLB many players do play through injuries, but when you have big problems with it in your 20s its not a good sign for your 30s.
I think a deal with certain clauses would be a good idea for sure when healthy hamilton is a deff stud hes just been bit by the injury bug and do think hamilton would give texas a certain discount for sure.
Not every Rangers fan wants to see Hammy sign long term in Texas. When healthy he’s one of the best but a full season of production has happened once. I’m looking forward to a good season from Hammy and then getting two draft picks for him signing somewhere else after 2012.
This would only work if Moreland can be capable of picking up his production, case he’d likely take over LF for Hamilton in 2013.
Wait, the only way the Rangers get two draft picks is if Moreland picks up his production? I don’t follow.
I mean, the only way this satisfies the fan base is if Moreland can successfully replace Hamilton. Because if Texas loses Hamilton and LF becomes a wasteland, the fans may not be too happy.
Who was it that said that he who listens to the fans will soon be sitting with them?
I get the need to avoid negative PR but a winning team cures just about every ill that would come about from losing a fan favorite. I really think the fan base will be satisfied if the Rangers are winning more than simply having one particular player on the roster.
I’m with you. People in Atlanta keep looking at Hamilton with wide eyes, but even if we had the money to make a push for him, we have our own injury issues with Chipper that have to be resolved before a push for Hamilton (Chipper’s option could be exercised next off-season when Hamilton becomes a FA).
I don’t think they should resign Hamilton. If they are paying somebody 20 million dollars for 6 more years. I want the player to be healthy. Hamilton has averaged playing 114 games the last three years. I think Fielder would be better investment because he has hardly missed any games since he started playing in the majors in fact the last 3 years I think he has only missed 1 game.
You are not alone in that assessment.
I don’t think it will take $20M/year to sign Hamilton. In fact, i think you could sign him for 4yr/$60M with incentives.
Yeah if he would agree to that they would probably do that, but 20 million would be insane for a yearly price if it is for four years or more. It just depends if Hamilton would take a discount price.
Rangers fans are getting spoiled with that good offense for a few years new. If they don’t sign Hamilton, who all is going to pick up the slack?
Of course, if Prince was to go there that would solve that problem…
You realize our lineup is about 6 deep with power hitters right? We’d be 7 deep with Andrus and the 9 hole hitter (CF) being the only guys that don’t hit for power.
More than a few years now. Since the 90s.
He’s the face of your organization but with all of the injuries do you want to sign him long-term before August? I would wait.
If the Rangers do sign Prince and let Josh walk, Seattle will have an opening at RF and money to spend. Considering we don’t give Ichiro another year or two. Stay in the A.L. west and hit in front of Montero, just a thought.
Its funny from the comments in here it seems as if more people want to get rid of hamilton or don’t like him because of his past, instead of applauding him for overcoming such odds to become who he is..
There are very few players as naturally gifted as Josh Hamilton is (if any players at all) And although he has battled injuries, its been mostly because of the style of game he plays. There is no direct proof that excessive drugs use leads to the body breaking down before 40.
There is research done that PEDs, namely steroids can lead to early death and bodies breaking down early. And look how many of those players lasted in to their late 30’s and early 40s’. the problem is more an issue of long term health.
the one issue that is associated with cocaine use is that it binds to the heart when passing through the body making that muscle weaker… there is a permanent long term effect that could perceivably be problematic, but besides that bone injuries, and other muscle related issues or unrelated to the cocaine use
Its funny from the comments in here it seems as if more people want to get rid of hamilton or don’t like him because of his past, instead of applauding him for overcoming such odds to become who he is..
There are very few players as naturally gifted as Josh Hamilton is (if any players at all) And although he has battled injuries, its been mostly because of the style of game he plays. There is no direct proof that excessive drugs use leads to the body breaking down before 40.
There is research done that PEDs, namely steroids can lead to early death and bodies breaking down early. And look how many of those players lasted in to their late 30’s and early 40s’. the problem is more an issue of long term health.
Keep in RF and his risk of injury goes down significantly.
As I see it, Josh Hamilton should be re-signed for maybe 3 more years after this one. As for his health, he could be put in left field or be a DH down the line…he can hit.
Swisher’s 5-year deal ends after 2012. With a spot in New York open, I would think They would be in on an MVP. Consider that good leverage to exceed Crawford money.