ESPN Josh Hamilton is going from the Texas Rangers to the rival Los Angeles Angels. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed Thursday that Hamilton agreed to a contract with the Angels. Multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN that the deal is worth $125 million over five years. Texas had hoped to re-sign Hamilton, the 2010 AL Most Valuable Player. Speaking Thursday after a Rangers’ holiday luncheon, Daniels was asked whether Hamilton had agreed with the Angels. Daniels said “that’s accurate” and that he had just been informed by Hamilton’s agent.Hamilton’s camp had also reportedly met with the Seattle Mariners last week at baseball’s winter meetings. Hamilton, 31, has batted .304 in his big-league career, all but 90 games of it in Texas. He has provided big power in the middle of the Rangers’ lineup, helping the team to World Series appearances in 2010 and ’11. Hamilton batted .285 with 43 homers and 128 RBIs in an inconsistent 2012 season that didn’t finish well; a vision problem caused him to miss five games, he struggled offensively and committed a costly error in the AL West-deciding loss to Oakland.
The Angels offense is now absolutely loaded with the addition of one of the best hitters in baseball, outfielder Josh Hamilton, who will give the Angels a deadly one-two punch with Albert Pujols.
The Angels needed another big offseason acquisition, because they will be competing for fans in Southern California with the free spending Dodgers next season, and Hamilton clearly increasea their star power.
One item that people seem to be forgetting is that the Angels signed starting pitcher C.J. Wilson from the Rangers last offseason, and Wilson is a religious nut and dear friend of Josh Hamilton, who helped keep Hamilton clean and sober while both were in Texas.
Great signing, the Angels lineup should be one of the most dangerous in baseball this spring, if Wilson can once again keep Hamilton on the straight and narrow.
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