Arbitration hearings can make for awkward and ugly situations for both the teams and the players involved. A good approach, then, is to reach contract settlements before a hearing becomes necessary, and on Thursday the Rangers did exactly that with Josh Hamilton, signing the outfielder to a two-year deal.
Josh Hamilton Signs Two-Year Contract With Rangers, Avoiding Arbitration
The contract will be worth $24 million, and while the breakdown is unknown, it’s expected to pay Hamilton somewhere around $10 million in 2011 and $14 million in 2012. He earned $3.25 million a year ago, and then went on to win the American League MVP. By locking him up, the Rangers avoid arbitration not only now, but next winter as well.
The 29-year-old Hamilton batted .359 last season with a 1.044 OPS, and owns a .916 OPS for his career. While he struggles with his health and can’t be counted on to play 160 games a year, when he’s on the field he’s as dominant a player as most any in the game, and he’s right in his physical prime. The Rangers will look forward to having him in the middle of their order over the next two years as they look to get over the hump and bring home a title.
Hamilton is still eligible to become a free agent following the 2012 season. For more, be sure to check out our Rangers blog, Lone Star Ball.
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