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Report: Josh Hamilton will not be suspended by MLB

By Will Osgood

Aug 19, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) reacts after lining out against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) reacts after lining out against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton, who relapsed into drugs and alcohol this offseason, will not be suspended by Major League Baseball, according to reports. 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Josh Hamilton is known for two things mainly: unreal baseball talent and, sadly, being a recovering addict. His addictions got the better of him this offseason, leading him back to drugs and alcohol and eventually into rehab.

As reported Thursday, Hamilton’s baseball fate was expected to be announced shortly after opening day, but a report leaked early Friday via the Los Angeles Times’ Mike DiGiovanna that Hamilton’s fate has been decided.

The news of the lack of a suspension for Hamilton comes after Hamilton met with a four-person committee comprised of two attorneys and two doctors in February. At the time the committee, along with baseball officials, came to a stagnate agreement on Hamilton’s baseball eligibility.

An arbitrator was then requested to make the final decision on whether Hamilton should be suspended. To suspend or not was based on the question of whether Hamilton was in violation of his treatment program.

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Hamilton self-reported his violation, but questions remained. New MLB commissioner Rob Manfred expressed on the Dan Patrick Show in March a concern over Hamilton’s situation, going back and forth between it being a violation and looking at Hamilton as a person with a serious addiction–akin to a medical issue.

The question was whether Hamilton should be treated the same as someone who uses performance enhancing drugs, the main target of the MLB drug policy, or someone preternaturally disposed to addiction.

As such Manfred knew the decision should not be taken lightly, especially since Hamilton has never been questioned for performance enhancing drugs. His problem, instead, has been of narcotics and alcohol.

Hamilton, of course, nearly died and left a promising baseball career earlier in his career after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 MLB entry draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now just Rays).

Hamilton, 33, is in the third year of a five-year/$125 million contract with the Angels which he signed after an amazingly successful rehabilitated career with the Texas Rangers.

Hamilton, though, has been a disappointment in Anaheim, struggling with injuries and inconsistency when in the lineup. The Angels have been rather quiet publicly as Major League Baseball has sorted through the evidence and conversations with Hamilton.

Hamilton is recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered last season, and was not part of the Angels’ Spring Training in Tempe. His locker was given to infielder Johnny Giovatella when the team returned to Anaheim on Thursday for their exhibition series with the Dodgers.

Next: Braves pitcher Arodys Vizcaino suspended 80 games for PED usage

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