Hamilton Changes Mind About Contract

Josh Hamilton should be one of the most polarizing sports figures in DFW's sports history. But he's not. He's pretty much universally loved and supported because of his rise-from-the-depths-of-hell story of overcoming drug addiction and blowing a slam dunk of a career only to come back and win MVP honors for the Texas Rangers.

This offseason, Hamilton said he wanted to reach a new deal with the Rangers before the 2012 season started or he wouldn't talk contract with the Rangers until he became a free agent following this upcoming season. Then, he had another public alcohol relapse leading him and the Rangers to put their contract talks on hold and Hamilton to say he didn't feel like he owed the Rangers anything.*

*By the way, that's true, but he just didn't need to say it.

Now, after he injured his groin on Friday and sat out the Cactus League games Saturday and Sunday for precautionary reasons, Hamilton is ready to talk contract again, even if he comes in the middle of the season.

"If they want to talk to my agent, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Hamilton said. "If Mike [Moye] comes to me and they want to talk about contracts, obviously, we're going to listen and he'll share with me what they said."

Hamilton hit .236 in 19 Cactus League games this spring, with no home runs. That's not a giant concern, but it might be a small one, even though Hamilton said he was pleased with his swing throughout spring training.

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