Josh Hamilton hasn’t played one game for the Rangers this season. And that will not change. The Rangers confirmed he will have season ending knee surgery next month.
General manager Jon Daniels told the local media Hamilton is committed to playing in 2017, the final year of his contract.
Hamilton came back to the Rangers last season in an April trade with the Angels but only played in 50 games with after being on the disabled list three different times for injuries.
The Rangers can hope for the best but he’ll be 35 when the 2017 MLB season starts next year and hasn’t played in over 90 games since 2013 when he played in 151 games for the Angels.
Hamilton will always be remembered for his incredible 2010 campaign which he won the ALCS MVP and was named American League MVP after the Rangers lost the World Series in 2010. He hit a 2-run homer in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series which would have won the Fall Classic but the bullpen blew the lead and the St. Louis Cardinals won the title in seven games.
That Josh is gone and I’m not sure if the club will have a starting job for him in 2017. Rookie Nomar Mazara and veteran Sin Soo-Choo will have corner outfield spots. Ian Desmond will be a free agent and the Rangers may want to bring him back. Hamilton can’t be a full time DH because that is the role Prince Fielder is currently occupying and with is larger contract, he won’t be traded. Lewis Brinson is a hot player in the Rangers minor league system and Delino DeShields will certainly be back in centerfield before the season is over.
Josh Hamilton’s got a long road to get back to Arlington. With the June surgery coming up, this means since signing that 5-year deal with the Angels, he will have played in only 290 of 648 MLB games since 2012.
