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While there is some contention as to how structured it actually is, the Angels have a plan for bringing Josh Hamilton back to their roster. The idea is to get him to extended spring training, then on a minor league rehab assignment, and finally, in June, back with the Angels in the majors. That is, unless Angels’ owner Arte Moreno follows through on his threats to enforce language in Hamilton’s contract meant to protect the team should Hamilton suffer a drug or alcohol relapse. The players’ union has Hamilton’s back, so if Moreno goes that route, this could be a long, drawn-out process instead of a simple two-month reboot of his Angels’ career.
As Hamilton didn’t participate in spring training games while awaiting word of a suspension that never came, he does need this time to get himself back into game shape, lest the rest of his season look something like the awfulness that Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew produced a year ago when they missed spring training. There is also the potential side benefit from the Angels’ point of view, which is that, if Hamilton looks good between now and the time they plan on calling him up, maybe they can work out a trade with someone. That someone could be the Rangers, Hamilton’s previous organization, but at this point that’s just a hope of some fans and writers rather than a possible reality.
A trade would involve the Angels eating a whole lot of Hamilton’s salary, but they’re already on the hook for all of it unless they want to try and fight a battle (they would likely lose) against the MLB Players Association. It’s going to be difficult to convincingly argue that Hamilton’s contract should be voided or reduced, when an independent arbitrator didn’t even think Hamilton deserved a suspension for his relapse. Keeping him is also an option, but we’ll see how interested the Angels are in that soon enough.
- With Addison Russell and Kris Bryant on the Cubs, are they the most watchable team in baseball? This isn’t the same thing as asking if they’re the best, by the way, far from it. What can we expect from Russell, anyway?
- The dust from the Brett Lawrie Wars has settled, and it’s the Royals who were punished by MLB for their participation. Royals fans are taking it about as well as you would expect.
- The A’s got lit up by the Angels on Tuesday night, but there was a silver lining in that beat down: first baseman Ike Davis got a chance to pitch, and he recorded a scoreless inning.
- Kris Bryant isn’t the first super-hyped prospect, so Baseball Prospectus took a stroll through history to discuss the much-heralded call-ups for the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays and more.
- Bryan Price doesn’t seem to understand that it wasn’t the 77 F-bombs that were the problem in his tirade.
- Price’s rant did serve as a reminder for fans of every team, however. Sometimes managers aren’t making dumb decisions and giving dumb explanations. Sometimes they’re just trying to diplomatically lie their way through a long season to protect their players.
- The Diamondbacks gave up on Trevor Bauer about two years ago when then-general manager Kevin Towers grew tired of even the thought of developing him. Now with the Indians, Bauer appears to be reaching for his potential.
- The Giants took the first game of a three-game set against the rival Dodgers on Tuesday, but remember that the Dodgers are the better team, and that’s okay, Giants’ fans.
- Yunel Escobar hit a walk-off home run for the Nationals on Tuesday, and slid into home plate to celebrate. You are forgiven if you just watch that on a loop for a while to start your day.
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