Angels trade Josh Hamilton to Rangers

Josh Hamilton enjoyed the best years of his MLB career with the Texas Rangers, winning AL MVP in 2010 and leading the Rangers to two consecutive World Series appearances. Hamilton made the All-Star Game in all five of his seasons in Texas, and he parlayed that into a five-year, $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Now, less than halfway through that deal, the Angels have traded Hamilton back to the Rangers after a tumultuous stint in Los Angeles. The deal is for a player to be named later or cash.

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After hitting .285 with 43 home runs and 128 RBI in his last season with the Rangers, he hit just .250 with 21 home runs and 79 RBI in 14 more at bats in his first season with the Angels. 2014 was an injury plagued season that finished horribly in the postseason, and Hamilton didn’t report to the Angels this season after offseason shoulder surgery in early February and a self-reported relapse into cocaine and alcohol use. Just several weeks ago, Angels owner Arte Moreno indicated he didn’t think Hamilton would ever play for Los Angeles again.

Hamilton is still on the 15-day disabled list right now as he recovers from that offseason shoulder surgery. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels expects Hamilton to be activated in the latter half of May, according to ESPN.

Whenever Hamilton gets healthy, the Rangers are hoping he can regain the form that made him one of the most fearsome hitters in the league during his first stint with the team. Texas isn’t taking on too much risk with the deal because the Angels are paying most of what Hamilton is still owed, and he’s even giving up some of the money he’s due. Also, it’s not like the Rangers are giving up much to get Hamilton back.

Texas is struggling at the moment with a record of 7-11, which is tied with the Seattle Mariners for last in the AL West. The Rangers rank last in the AL in batting average and are 14th in slugging and OPS. A rejuvenated Hamilton could certainly help those rankings, although of course, there are no guarantees he comes back to form. He’ll be 34 in May and is coming off the surgery, and he also has the history of off-the-field problems. Hopefully for his sake he can get healthy, stay clean and be able to make an impact with the Rangers when he returns to the lineup.