Hamilton back with Rangers
Injured slugger says he is happy to be ‘back home.’
Outfifielder Josh Hamilton (left) shakes hands with Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels on Monday in Arlington. Hamilton, who rose to stardom with the Rangers in 2008-12, was reacquired from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Josh Hamilton is back with the Texas Rangers after two troubled seasons with the Angels filled with poor performance, injuries and an alcohol and drug relapse.
Less than halfway through a $125 million, five-year contract, Hamilton was traded Monday by the Angels to their AL West rival for a player to be named or cash. The Angels and owner Arte Moreno, wanting to rid himself of Hamilton, agreed to pay most of the remaining $80 million Hamilton was owed under the contract, which runs through 2017.
“I played, and played hard when I was there,” Hamilton said. “I worked my butt off to be that guy this year going into this season for the Angels. They just didn’t want that to happen for some reason.”
On the 15-day disabled list while recovering from right shoulder surgery on Feb. 4, Hamilton took a physical and will report today to the Rangers’ spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the team expects he will be there for about 10 days, then spend 14 days on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. He is on track to be activated the second half of May.
“I’m back here. I’m back home,” Hamilton said. “I’m going to give everything I’ve got.”
Hamilton, who turns 34 on May 21, returns to the team he helped make consecutive World Series appearances in 2010 and ’11. He was the 2010 AL MVP and an All-Star each of his five seasons with Texas (2008-12).
■ The Rangers recalled left-hander Alex Claudio from Triple-A Round Rock and demoted struggling reliever Tanner Scheppers.
Dodgers: Starter Brandon McCarthy, who was 3-0 with a 5.87 ERA this season, has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will miss the remainder of the season.
Cardinals: Ace Adam Wainwright will have surgery this week to repair a torn left Achilles tendon. Recovery time is generally nine to 12 months.
Reds: Starter Homer Bailey was put on the 15day DL with a sprained ligament in his right elbow, the same one he had surgery on last September. Right-hander Carlos Contreras was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
Rockies: Closer Adam Ottavino was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right triceps inflammation. Right-hander Jorge Rondon was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Marlins: Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was designated for assignment. Saltalamacchia, who this season is 2-for29 (.069) with 12 strikeouts, signed a $21 million, three-year contract as a free agent before the 2014 season.
Nationals: Max Scherzer will not make his scheduled start against Atlanta tonight because of a sprained right thumb.