As we noted yesterday, the Angels and Rangers are close to a deal that would send troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton back to Texas, with the Angels receiving $15MM or less in salary relief in return. The deal isn’t yet complete (and it’s easy to see why, given the complexity of dealing with the approximately $80MM on Hamilton’s contract), but here are a few early reactions.
- Given the reported terms of the deal, the Hamilton trade is a low-risk gambit by the Rangers, Dayn Perry of CBS Sports writes. Hamilton’s left-handed power should play better in the Rangers’ ballpark than it did in the Angels’, and also, Hamilton could prove to be more comfortable in Texas, where he produced many of his best seasons. Meanwhile, the $15MM or less the Rangers are reportedly taking on isn’t an exorbitant commitment.
- Arguing in a somewhat similar vein, Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News argues that the Rangers have little to lose from the trade. Hamilton won’t block any outfielders who are performing well, and the Rangers can provide a supportive environment that can help Hamilton as he battles his addiction issues.
- Hamilton’s Angels teammates hope he has good luck in Texas, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports. “No matter what the situation is, Josh is going to pick up a 35-inch bat and go swing,” says C.J. Wilson. “That’s what he’s good at, and I think that’s what he needs to be doing right now.”
- Along with Gary Matthews Jr. and Vernon Wells, Hamilton will be the third high-priced outfielder in recent years who the Angels have traded with two or more years left on his deal, Bill Shaikin of the Times notes. The Angels just $2MM when they sent Matthews to the Mets, and $14MM when they shipped Wells to the Yankees.
I am still in shock that the angels didn’t get anyone in return, I don’t see how they call it a trade without getting anyone back. 15 Million off the payroll for the angels and eating 68 million, Vernon Wells Part 2. This is why Arte Moreno should of let Dipoto do his job as a GM and make other signings like Greinke and re-sign torii hunter. Or some other kind of signings, they had enough offense at the time with trumbo trout and pujols no need for an extra bat. they had morales but traded him for vargas.
I don’t think that the Angels were expecting to play Hamilton at all anymore, and that $15M figures out to get extensions for those players they want to keep under the cap. Huston Street is a perfect match, and would have been a done deal pre-season if only Hamilton had had gotten just an expected 30 game drug suspension, concurrent with his DL stint. Richards, Calhoun, Santiago, Salas, are all up for arbitration, and Freese, Joyce, Iannetta, are FA next year. That $15M savings has probably already been factored in for those uses
Another extension I hope they can do for cheap is weaver, he’s an angel for life imo. Then down the road give richards & Calhoun extensions. I am pretty sure before the season ends. they will have street signed, Freese I think will walk in free agency, and Kubitza is the third basemen next year, And Iannetta as well, Perez might be ready next year
Cam Bedrosian might be our closer in waiting.
I would still want Street, he’s been so reliable in his career
i dont see angels doing 8-10 mill a year for a closer
Dipoto has had his eye on Street for an eon. He lives locally, is his own agent, and keep on collecting saves. Early negotiations had them agreeing to around $36-38M for 4 years, which depended on Hamilton’s outcome. They didn’t go through all that trouble for Street to let him walk.
Baseball doesn’t have a cap. If it did the Hamilton contract probably wouldn’t exist in its current form.
Hamilton shouldn’t of been signed at the time, If they wanted a big bat, they should of made some kind of trade or something, but not hamilton, they had plenty of offense imo, trout trumbo pujols kendrick.
I used the term “cap” loosely, as in Moreno’s self imposed luxury tax limit.
The Angels could use him right now, 2 for there last 27 with runners in scoring position, Hamilton could not do any worse.
its more likely due to the fact hamilton is a big question mark in being a productive player again
I’m not a fan of either team but I think Hamilton will go off if he get’s back to Texas.
Hoping the best for him.
Meddling Moreno just forced one of the more lopsided trades in recent memory.
Well go back to the trade he made to get vernon wells
Honestly, I am thinking the Orioles should jump in on this.
Yes, I am aware of what I said about Hamilton.
Yes, it would be a big gamble, but not financially.
However, if the Angels are going to give him away, I think the Orioles could certainly make a counter offer. As long as the Orioles can allocate that 15 million over the time frame of the contract, they could do it. Plus, they could offer a player like Brian Matusz. The Orioles are struggling in several different ways this year. However taking a gamble and swooping down on Hamilton as a mystery team might not be a bad idea.
An outfield of Hamilton, Jones, Young is a championship caliber outfield if the gamble paid off. Matusz needs a change of scenery too. I just see Hamilton going back to Texas as being Ground Hog Day. I think the O’s could do it and it would be worth the gamble. Plus, they could rework Hamilton’s contract, if ‘X’ happens, then there would be ‘Y’ remedy and he would become a free agent and…..I would at least give this some consideration if I were DD or Showalter.
I think it’s already a done deal
I think you’re right. Just with the unusual circumstances of the trade, it’s taking a bit of time for it to become official.
Why would Hamilton rework his contract? He’s getting paid regardless. There’s zero incentive to do anything to the contract unless he gets something in return.
imo I think the rangers should of eaten at least half of hamilton’s contract, I mean 68 million that is too much for the angels to eat.
I don’t think you could get any team to take on half of Hamilton’s contract, at this point. And after the mess after it all came out, they had to trade him.
Angels had zero leverage and do not have the prospects that would convince a team to take half
It’s done. I don’t think there was ever going to be any other outcome. Josh is going to go where he is comfortable and where he should be welcomed back. Hopefully he does what he can to get his life right. Playing the game should help getting his feet back on the right path, whatever that may be.
Oh okay and this reply is too all.
I didn’t think it was really a done deal yet.
I guess it’s minutia they need to resolve,
I think because of the monies involved the commisioners office needs to make sure all the legal i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
Players Association has to get a cursory view as well since he reportedly is forfeiting money
Citation?
Hamilton has made it known that Texas is the only place he wanted to be.
Hamilton has a full no trade clause, and has said he wants to play in Texas. Also, Texas has no income tax which is also a factor of this deal working out.
even if baltimore swept in in last minute to get hamilton it wouldn’t help, as it looks like baltimore is lost without cruz and i don’t see hamilton being a mvp player again
With this kind of allocation of talent and money, I wonder if both the Angels and Rangers didn’t get something of value. The Angels didn’t want him back, and saved $15M and some potentially messy litigation costs. The Rangers only put $15M at risk, for three years. He can be dumped over the side any time they want, and no one is going to blame them. it’s probably Hamilton’s last chance.
Angels got nothing of value. They are paying another team 65 million to take a player.
68 million to be exact
Let me ask the question differently. If this had been Ryan Howard, and he was traded along with, say, $50M, would you have thought it was a horrible deal for the Phillies?
Hamilton has WAY more value and upside than howard
Provided he stays out of trouble. That’s the point. The Angels clearly didn’t want to take the chance, or deal with the drama. For the Rangers (especially since they are going to be paying even less than suggested in this article) it’s a very good gamble–all they have to do is tie up a roster spot.
And another team in the same division. Hopefully this doesn’t come back to haunt the angels. If I was Hamilton, I’d have extra incentive to play hard against them in the future.
Just like they gave napoli away, he still haunts us to this day
No he doesn’t. He had one good second half and the rest is an inability to find consistency. When he was finally given a chance to play every day, he had a terrible season. I wouldn’t mind him hitting 7th for the Halos again. But I’m sick of people whining about him like he’s Vlad Guerrero. That was 4 years ago. People need to get over it.
The way I see this entire ‘Deal’ is that the Angels were essentially going to release Josh. Instead they get back $15 million instead of eating $83 million. For Josh’s sake, I hope it works out. It is a place where he will be comfortable plus the Rangers could use a little of his power since their outfield isn’t producing.
I’m wondering if Hamilton will play in the OF or DH. If he’s in the OF, it makes their lineup even more susceptible to lefties. Martin, Choo, Hamilton, Fielder, Moreland, Odor – all lefty. Only Andrus, Beltre, and Chirinos are R.
You have to admit it’s a good deal, money wise. But I’m not sure this will help address their offensive ineptitude or make their team better. I guess we’ll see.
Now that the Angels are done with Hamilton, maybe they can try to fill his shoes with Andre Ethier. He fits perfectly into the Angels legacy of overpaid and awful outfielders like Hamilton, Vernon Wells, and Gary Matthews Jr.
Mathews Jr is one I’d forgotten about – is that guy still under contract? Hey, he made that one great catch that one time….