Angels Could Trade Josh Hamilton, Have Talked To Rangers And Padres

Of all of the subjects of MLB trade rumors this off-season, Josh Hamilton of the Los Angeles Angels might have been the least likely candidate. The team reportedly has talked to multiple teams about a deal for Hamilton.

Josh Hamilton has a cool $83 million left on his contract. He has a full no-trade clause. Perhaps the only thing that seems less likely than Hamilton getting traded this winter is a trade that would send him back to the Texas Rangers.

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That seems impossible, yet Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels and Rangers actually discussed a possible trade with Hamilton this off-season. Seriously. So did the San Diego Padres, because of course they did since they are apparently in the business of blockbuster deals this winter.

From Rosenthal:

"A scout with whom I speak regularly predicted Tuesday that Josh Hamilton would not open the season as a member of the Angels.I would not go that far. But I would bet that Hamilton does not complete the final three years of his contract with the club.The Angels, according to major-league sources, have discussed a possible Hamilton trade with at least two teams this offseason, the Rangers and the Padres.The talks were exploratory in nature; they did not gain traction, and the Angels did not contact Hamilton about waiving his no-trade clause, sources said."

Statistics and injury troubles aside, there was so much talk about Hamilton needing a fresh start when he signed with the Angels. It would appear that there is already enough baggage there that, combined with Hamilton’s salary and strikeout-prone ways, the Angels might be looking for a way out.

It seems unlikely that the Angels will find a trade partner for Hamilton, but this becomes an interesting situation to monitor in Los Angeles.

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