Josh Hamilton is going from the Texas Rangers to the rival Los Angeles Angels.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed Thursday that Hamilton agreed to a contract with the Angels. Multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN that the deal is worth $125 million over five years.
Texas had hoped to re-sign Hamilton, the 2010 AL Most Valuable Player. Speaking Thursday after a Rangers’ holiday luncheon, Daniels was asked whether Hamilton had agreed with the Angels.
Daniels said “that’s accurate” and that he had just been informed by Hamilton’s agent, Mike Moye.
Hamilton joins a team that spent big last offseason to add first baseman Albert Pujols for $240 million and pitcher C.J. Wilson for $77.5 million. Yet, the Angels disappointed and failed to make the playoffs.
The agreement came days after the Los Angeles Dodgers added pitchers Zack Greinke and Ryu Hyun-jin, boosting their payroll over $200 million.
Hamilton’s addition to the Angels outfield means Mark Trumbo could be moved to third base or traded.
The 31-year-old Hamilton was considered a risk by some teams because of his history of alcohol and substance abuse, which derailed his career before his surge with the Rangers over the past five seasons. Daniels expressed disappointment that the Rangers weren’t given a chance to match the Angels’ offer.
“Our full expectation was that the phone call was going to be before he signed, certainly not after and giving us an idea,” Daniels said.
Daniels also revealed that Hamilton indicated last week that it “might be time to move on,” but the two sides were still talking.
“I thought we had additional conversations this week that had moved it along in a positive direction,” Daniels said. “Apparently not. It’s business and everybody has to make their own calls, and he has a family to look out for. I get it.
“Josh has done a lot for the organization. The organization has done a lot for Josh — a lot of things that aren’t public and things of that nature. I’m a little disappointed in how it was handled, but he had a decision to make and he made it.”
Hamilton’s camp had also reportedly met with the Seattle Mariners last week at baseball’s winter meetings.
Hamilton has batted .304 in his big-league career, all but 90 games of it in Texas. He has provided big power in the middle of the Rangers’ lineup, helping the team to World Series appearances in 2010 and ’11.
Hamilton batted .285 with 43 homers and 128 RBIs in an inconsistent 2012 season that didn’t finish well; a vision problem caused him to miss five games, he struggled offensively and committed a costly error in the AL West-deciding loss to Oakland.
Courtesy of espn.com