Rangers to only offer 3 year max to Hamilton

[Smart]

Looks like Hamilton may have played his last games for the Rangers unless the market suggests differently. I doubt it though....Somebody will throw stupid money at him and take a chance. Gonna miss that swing and the long drives but not going to miss the drama if he leaves. Can't say I blame Daniels and Ryan for this approach. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite them.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/8610003/texas-rangers-max-offer-josh-hamilton-3-years-report-says

http://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/11/9/3623864/josh-hamilton-texas-rangers-contract

The maximum length the Texas Rangers are willing to re-sign free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton for is three years, making the likelihood the 2010 American League MVP will return to the team slim, USA Today Sports has reported, citing a high-ranking team official. The Rangers made a qualifying offer for Hamilton last week at slightly below the $13.75 million that he received in 2012, a deal he declined Friday.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has said his club is mapping out scenarios for life with and without Hamilton, in case he doesn't return.

"We'll visit with him probably next week," Daniels said, according to the USA Today report. "Whatever the process that they wanted to go through, they were going to do. I'll get a sense of that when Mike (Moye, Hamilton's agent) and I talk.




.

[akey]

I like Hambone but I also believe in the Rangers' front office. Some idiot GM will give him max money for a lot of years and hamstring his team for a guy that shows flashes of Hall of Fame potential while not being able to stay physically healthy or mentally checked in for the duration of a season.

[talltexasshoote]

After the way he finished last year I think they are playing the right card. I am afraid he will end up with another team. I hope it is in the national league.

[Todd-ty729]

Why can't a good player just be normal!

[bphillips]

I think they're going at him the right way. As much as I wish he'd stay I just don't see it.

Didn't Nolan also say whatever deal they offer him won't be on the table long? I heard that somewhere and I'm glad they're not focusing all attention to one player.

[NelsonV]

Should have offered 4 year/100million. You would have got your money's worth from that. I don't blame him for leaving which he will.

[KR-oldmexico]

I think he needs to consider who has his back and who has given him the chance to get back in baseball! It amazes me how short of memories people have these days! The Rangers have bent over backwards for Hamilton, I'm not saying to come back in cheap, but take a competitive deal, stay and be loyal! However, our men in the front office may not really want him, if they did they would throw bigger $$$ at him to stay.....

Go Rangers!

[Txfirerescue]

It was said at the beginning of last season that between Hamilton and Kinsler one of them would get a contract before the trade deadline. Kinsler hit it and I'm glad.

Hamilton had been told that he needed to prove he wanted to be out on the field...which he showed time and time again (lop swings/numerous fieldingerrors) that he didn't.

I trust the front office and kind of glad to see him go. Not having him will not hurt the Rangers and they have proved that numerous times.

[MTNshape]

Should have offered 4 year/100million. You would have got your money's worth from that. I don't blame him for leaving which he will.

They low balled on purpose knowing he would turn it down, this way if he signs with another team they get a draft pick. They can still bump their offer if the market for him is dead, but someone will throw stupid money at him.

[NelsonV]

Unless they bring in another bat this is gonna sting more than most think it will. He puts up great numbers. He's by far one of the best hitters in the game. Sure he goes in slumps but they all do. I hate to see him go.

[bowhuntntxn]

Maybe the organization learned something from the A rod deal a few years back. I hope they keep low balling him and forcing him to realize that he isn't that special, and certainly not 25 million per year kinda special. He can hit the ball a ton when he feels like it, but keeping him mentally checked into the season is proving to be more difficult lately.

Power hitting center fielders that are not injury prone and are not recovering addicts are available. And his numbers can be replaced with the right folks. Tis will work out for the rangers, and I bet JH does not get stupid money thrown at him because of the years he wants with it. Time will tell.

[GregH]

He'll be missed, but that is the way of a sports franchise. The common sense part of me always asks how in the world do these teams put up with the junk they have to deal with related to some of the elite players no matter what the sport. My prayer is that Josh and those players with similar problems stay the course and put their past problems behind them. Reality is that the temptation that big money puts in front of them attracts the worst sort of people looking for a piece of the action with no regards for the athlete.

In the end it is all about the money and winning for most of the franchise owners, hopefully not all of them. I will hand it to the Rangers though, they seem to be an organization with integrity and they seem to go the extra mile to deals with their players and player's problems.

[TxTechBowhunter]

I sure hate to see him go, but the Rangers front office knows what they are doing.

For Josh's sake I hope he can find a team that will offer him the same off the field support he had here.

[TexasRed]

This is old news. Yeah, JD said they would only go 3 years but talk and posturing means nothing at this point. Yes, they offered Josh what is called a "qualifying offer" that was routinely turned down. This ensured the Rangers a supplemental 1st round draft pick if he signs elsewhere. My opinion is that they should offer the 3 years at big money with a couple of option years, also with big money. That would be fair.

As far as the loyalty talk goes, Josh owes the Rangers and our community NOTHING. He was paid to play and most of the time he did. As a matter of fact, he performed on a really high level for relatively little pay. His loyalty needs to be to his family and that's it. If anyone on this board tells me they would approach it any differently I'd call you a liar.

My guess is that he'll sign a long term deal somewhere, have a couple of flashes of greatness, and be out of the game before his contract is up. My guess is that deal won't be in Texas.

[aggie2000tx]

Daniels has already said according to TexAs Rangers.com that they would have the last shot at Hamilton. Meaning they will know what the other teams are offering. I don't see him coming back but I really do not have a problem with it. They will be a very right handed batting lineup if he does leave