Report: Rangers Closing In On Trade For Josh Hamilton
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- The Texas Rangers are closing in on a trade with Los Angeles to acquire former All Star slugger Josh Hamilton, according to media reports.
MLB.com writer TR Sullivan says a lot of legal work is left to be done, but the deal could be finalized and announced by Monday.
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Yahoo! Sports reports that Texas would be responsible for just $15 million of the more than $80 million remaining on Hamilton's deal.
Hamilton, a five-time All-Star and the 2010 AL MVP, self-reported a relapse with drug and alcohol this year. An arbitrator decided that Hamilton could not be disciplined by Major League Baseball.
READ: Hamilton Won't Be Disciplined For Violating Program
The Los Angeles Angels have not expressed a willingness to bring back Hamilton, who has been recovering from February surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder.
Hamilton signed and five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in 2012. The 33-year-old is signed through 2017 and is still owed more than $80 million. He has a full no-trade clause and would need to approve any trade.
Hamilton spent five season in Texas, where he hit 142 homeruns in helping lead the Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
The left-handed slugger was sharply criticized in DFW after saying it wasn't a "baseball town."
Hamilton struggled in Los Angeles last season, playing in just 89 games due to injury. In two seasons with the Angels, Hamilton has hit just .255 with 31 home runs, while striking out 266 times.
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