After a failed signing by the Los Angeles Angels, luckily Josh Hamilton’s former team was willing to take him back along with helping the Halos pay off some of the remaining $80 million. There have been quite a few big contracts in the past that teams have gotten locked up in, and were not able to find a way out of, but this time the Angels were able to free up cap space, plus get an injury prone and mentally misallocated player off of the squad. Back in 2012 Anaheim signed the former AL MVP to a 5-year tender worth $125 million. Since, Hamilton has brought some star power, but only flashes, as he had injury problems. Then recently Josh fell back into his old life of drug abuse; that combined with the lack of production, made it clear to the Angels that they needed to get him off the team. So, luckily there was a team out there that welcomed him with open arms, in the Texas Rangers.
Hamilton was one of the best prospects baseball had ever seen back in the early 2000’s, but then he got caught up with a bad group of friends that lead to him disappearing for about 4 years resulting in drug abuse and tattoos. When he came back, in 2008 he stormed into the majors and produced like scouts had projected some years ago. For about 6 seasons, it really seemed like he had cleaned up his act and become a reliable superstar; until he relapsed this Spring. After two uneventful performances for the Angels under a new big contract, the relapse wasn’t a surprise; the old Hamilton was back, as he blew his second chance with the MLB.
Even his wife has now filed for divorce, and the baseball world is seeing his true colors once again like it did back in 2002. But for some reason one team is still living in the past; that team is the Texas Rangers; the place where he Josh became an MVP caliber player. After all the work Josh did to get back into the game and reinvent himself, then to destroy it again, a return to stardom is not likely. Could Hamilton going back to Texas help him recover and turn the clocks back to 2010? Maybe, but for now he will just be another washed up superstar who could not hold on for long; unlike the guys in Cooperstown.
The Angels will barely suffer from the trade of Hamilton, due to him not living up to his contract, but losing the potential of a healthy comeback, could hurt. Already this season, the Halos have seen their offense struggle without Howie Kendrick, but now losing even more depth in Hamilton, the replay of 98 wins is just a mirage. 7 years ago, the return of baseball’s super prospect grabbed the hearts of fans, but now the fairy tale ends with an open book.
