MLB Trade Rumors: Angels exploring dealing Josh Hamilton
The Los Angeles Angels have had a publicly-known dispute with slugger Josh Hamilton over his recent drug relapse and the team is open to possibly trading him.
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Josh Hamilton has gone from one of the best sluggers in the league and a former MVP to one of the most unreliable guys out there. After a recent drug relapse this offseason — he has a history of cocaine and alcohol use — Hamilton has found himself in deep water.
The Los Angeles Angels have been unhappy with the recent turn of events, and that could mean a trade is in the near future.
Hamilton has been on the disabled list all season thus far so the Angels’ sluggers has been itching to get back into the lineup and with his team. With the Angels for the past two years, the 33-year-old has hit just .255 with 31 homers and 123 RBI.
How bad is that compared to what he is capable of? Well, in the season before joining the Angels, the superstar hit .285 with 43 home runs and 128 RBI. He did more in 2012 than he did in two years with the Angels.
So, it seems like the Angels wouldn’t be losing too much production.
Sources: #Angels, Hamilton in talks aimed at resolving their dispute. A number of scenarios being explored, including trades. Nothing close.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 18, 2015
While a trade might happen, another possibility is a buyout of his contract, which seems like a long-shot at this point.
A buyout for Hamilton would appear one possibility, but union generally frowns upon players devaluing contracts. #Angels owe Hamilton $83M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 18, 2015
Should the Angels trade the former star slugger and current DL regular?
In Hamilton’s defense, he has the potential to be one of the best hitters in baseball and he showed that in 2012 as well as his MVP season in 2010 in which he hit .359 with 32 homers and 100 RBI. The talent is there, but the execution has been lacking with the Angels.
However, I think it’s time these two sides part ways and look for other alternatives. Hamilton definitely needs a change of scenery and remaining with a team he has been disputing with as well as struggled with when he was playing is just not a good situation for him to be in.
The Angels need to find a team who is willing to pay him $83 million for the remainder of his contract. That might be the toughest thing in this situation. However, the team needs to move on just as much as Josh does.
Los Angeles needs to trade him to a team willing to give him the help he needs while also giving him another chance at baseball.
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