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Hot Stove: Angels reach five-year agreement with Josh Hamilton 12.13.12 at 2:44 pm ET
By Alex Speier

Josh Hamilton has reportedly reached a five-year, $125 million agreement with the Angels (AP)

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com (via twitter), the Angels have reached a five-year agreement with free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton.ESPNDallas.com reports that Hamilton will receive $125 million ($25 million per year).

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, hit .285 with a .354 OBP, .577 slugging mark, .930 OPS and a career-high 43 homers for the Rangers in 2012. In his six-year big league career, the top overall pick in the 1999 draft has hit .304/.363/.549/.913 with 161 homers while averaging 123 games per year.

His AL West defection from the Rangers to the Angels represents an impactful shift for 2013, although with the Halos committing to Hamilton between ages 32-36, along with the remaining nine years on the contract of first baseman Albert Pujols, the Angels have committed considerable resources to a pair of players who are in the post-prime phases of their careers. Even so, the idea of a lineup loaded with Mike Trout, Hamilton, Pujols and Mike Trumbo will likely terrify plenty of opposing pitchers.

The Sox talked with Hamilton throughout the offseason, with GM Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell having met Hamilton and his agent, Mike Moye, during last week’s winter meetings in Nashville. However, the Sox’ tolerance for the risks of a deal of longer than a few years was always in question. For a look at the risks associated with commitments of more than three years with Hamilton, click here.

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  • Chonor0713

    But look out we got Dempster.  Way to go Ben.  Driving this team right into mediocrity.  Angels are going to rake.

  • Bad Signing

    This guy will do nothing but rake in cash, Texas not talking to him is a red flag. Remember, Texas will take 2 1st rounders from Anaheim, this guy is an accident waiting to happen, I am glad the Sox stayed far away. Dempster will help the Sox more than Hamilton will help the Angels.

  • Grygor_c

    The sox are just paranoid, After their experience with Crawford and AGonz , they now lack the guts for long term contracts. It’s not the contracts it’s the players they get. Hamilton and a front line pitcher would have put them to the top but they were to scaaared. So sad!

  • Typical Boston Fan

    Yeah they will rake just like last year… oh wait…

  • Grygor_c

    fiscal discipline = paranoia!

  • Salspal

    Are you for real? Dempster is a #5 pitcher who will not win more than 10 games. Sox should’ve ponied up 5 years for Hamilton. They have no power in this lineup. How many days after the season start will Papi go on the DL. Napoli if he gets here will probably hit around .230. I’d take Hamilton over Napoli and Victorino. Salaries are the same and throw Kalish in right.

  • AL34

    Well its December wnd we are finished for 2013. I am not even bothering with a MLB Baseball package. I have better things to do with my time than watch this third rate team and the garbage they signed this Winter. Great deals Ben and Larry. Cannot believe the writers will be happy with this team or the fans for that matter. We are always in on everything and yetnwe get nothing but throways and garbage. Wake me up when the Red Sox sign somebody good !!!

  • voice of reason

    the angles made a big mistake 5 years is too long for Hamilton.

  • ScoopBurton

    “Scoop Burton ” had him going too the Yankees….

  • Tonyfranco

    Seeing what the Angels were willing to go on Hamilton, the Red Sox would have had to offer at least more money, not necessarily years.  Definitely a big risk but if you’re going to take risks, do it with the superstar level players, not mid-level players.  Too bad, I really wanted him at Fenway.

    Wow, that lineup.  But they have lost a lot of pitching.  Greinke, Haren, Santana.  BUT, addition by subtraction.  Although they lost those players, they didn’t go to Texas.  He you took Texas’ best hitter.

  • Tonyfranco

    Oh, I forgot.  Let the Jacoby to Texas trade discussion begin.  OYE!!

  • JimDaytona

    I wonder if Ben understands that taking a player off the market such a Hamilton means no other team becomes stronger with just such a player.

  • Anonymous

    I wonder if they’ll have enough money to sign Trout when he hits the free market.

  • Tonyfranco

    Trout won’t be a free agent until after Hamilton’s contract expires.  The Angels will likely look to give him an extension before then to buy out a couple arbitration years.  As great of a lineup the Angels will have, don’t discount what they also lost (Greinke, Haren, Santana, Hunter).  Granted Hamilton will make up for the loss of Hunter, but it’s not like the Angels got zero out of that slot last year.

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