The Rangers announced today that they have released outfielder Josh Hamilton from the minor-league deal that the sides struck during the offseason. Per the club, Hamilton suffered another knee injury during his rehabilitation efforts and will again require surgery.
Hamilton’s most recent surgery was on his left knee, the latest in a long line of procedures performed on the joint. But his new injury — the details of which have not been reported — occurred to the opposite knee.
It’s not known what’s next for the 35-year-old, who was in the mix for a roster spot in Spring Training before going under the knife. Last he played in the majors, back in 2015, Hamilton still had above-average power but struggled to reach base with a declining walk rate.
You have to go further back to find a full season of action — 2013, with the Angels — and further still to find one in which he was a highly productive player. That’d be 2012, when Hamilton set himself up for a big free-agent payday by slashing .285/.354/.577 and swatting 43 home runs in Texas. The Angels are paying off the last of that deal (less $2MM still owed by the Rangers) this year.
Time to call ‘er a career, Josh. You had a damn good run there for a few years.
Wow. That’s what? 4 knee surgeries in 2 years all on the same knee? Gotta respect his drive to play, but Josh has got to hang ’em up. His body just won’t cooperate anymore
Not my favorite guy in the game, but I guess I respect his drive to try and keep doing what he loves.
Why is he not your favorite?
Just because of his story doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to like him.
Must be why I asked
Josh Hamilton Killed A Man
He really should just retire
Seems like when a guy struggles with injury, effectiveness, everyone comes out of the woodwork to tell him to retire. But hey, Josh Hamilton, if you want to keep playing, and someone is willing to keep giving you chances, then keep trying.
He’s a shining example of how one can overcome self imposed adversity, but also one of how said self imposed adversity can have lingering effects long after it’s been overcome.
Yep, and there are many of us who can relate. Me, for one.
Hamilton overcoming his addictions played a big role in my brother doing the same.
He has Grandma Knees
Cmon, Arte Moreno: ex-Ranger available. Time to swoop in and offer Josh 5yrs/$100 mil. I think you can get him to sign! Aw, heck, outbid yourself and offer 7yrs/$150mil. Go, Arte, go!
Is there anything left?
I don’t understand why they would release him from a MINORS deal? Couldn’t they just put him on the DL for the minors team?
Anyone able to explain this to me?
Yes, it may seem confusing, but they most likely did that because they felt they really had no use in him anymore. The rangers probably just said alright we don’t need this guy, so we are gonna let him go somewhere else
Rangers paid for his surgery and rehab on the minor league deal, and probably figured with this new injury, why pay for another surgery and rehab when there’s less of a chance he can do anything for them this year.
Don’t they have to cover his surgery and rehab anyway? I know in the majors even if an injured player becomes a FA they still rehab with their old team in the off season until if/when they sign with a new team?
They are only releasing him to screw the angels. Now them angels r going to have to pay the salary of a man to sit at home not doing nothing. Ridiculous they need to make a rule against this type of nonsense.
No they don’t have to make a rule against it. Just have your owner not override the GM and hand out stupid contracts.
Gonna miss this fool
And yet the angels are still paying him