Out of Left Field

Josh Hamilton and Talking

by Matthew Kory

Josh Hamilton is one of the big storylines of the offseason. Where will he end up? Will he sign with [team x]? Maybe! Maybe not! Possibly maybe not! That’s about the best we can say on the matter. Maybe someone knows, possibly, but probably not.

I just used the words “maybe” and “possibly” a total of six times. That sums things up. We know why. Hamilton’s is one of the oddest free agent cases in recent memory. A supremely talented yet supremely flawed player, he’s old but not that old, appears excellent defensively but he’s possibly poor at defense. Then there’s the near unprecedented (for free agent baseball players) matter of his personal problems. It adds up to a player who could end up just about anywhere.

Oh, and there’s the price. BP’s own John Perrotto reported Hamilton is seeking a seven-year, $175 million contract. That would be the ninth-biggest ever, slotting in between Mark Teixeira’s $180 million deal with the Yankees and C.C. Sabathia’s $161 million deal with the Padres. That number is going to limit the pool of suitors*.

*The whole idea of using dating terms to describe free agents and their prospective teams reached its zenith yesterday when the Orioles were described as being “in hard” on Adam LaRoche. Presumably that is better than being “in deep” on Adam LaRoche, which would possibly upset him and his wife and therefore inhibit a team’s ability to sign him. Also it’s gross.Though only slightly grosser than “in deep.” That’s gross too.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, eight teams have been connected to Josh Hamilton over the past month. All of them have been mentioned more than once. So let’s take a look at those and a few other possibilities and put some arbitrary-ish numbers on it, shall we? No? Well I’m doing it anyway.

The Eight

The rest of this article is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers.

Not a subscriber?

Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get access to the best baseball content on the web.

Already a subscriber? Click here and use the blue login bar to log in.

12 comments have been left for this article.

<< Previous Article
Rumor Roundup: Tuesday... (12/04)

<< Previous Column

Out of Left Field: The... (11/27)

Next Column >>
Out of Left Field: Wha... (12/18)

Next Article >>
On the Beat: Rumblings... (12/04)

RECENTLY AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS Scouting the Draft: Corner Outfielders to Kn... Daily Hit List: Tuesday, May 21 Punk Hits: Eyes on the Prize Baseball ProGUESTus: Dollar Sign on the Glis... Skewed Left: The Shift's PR Problem What You Need to Know: Corb Your Enthusiasm Overthinking It: The Pitches No Zone Can Con...	MORE FROM DECEMBER 4, 2012 Baseball ProGUESTus: Anatomy of a Trade: The... Prospect Push: On the Brink of Elite Scouting the Draft: College Infielders Western Front: Thou Shalt Not Run on Johnny ... Transaction Analysis: Boston, Napoli Married Transaction Analysis: Rangers Ink Soria Transaction Analysis: Pagan But Not Forgotte...
MORE BY MATTHEW KORY 2013-01-09 - Out of Left Field: Jumping the Gun on 2013 P... 2012-12-18 - Out of Left Field: What the Internet Can Tea... 2012-12-07 - Transaction Analysis: Red Sox Get Koji 2012-12-04 - Out of Left Field: Josh Hamilton and Talking... 2012-11-27 - Out of Left Field: The Least Valuable Player 2012-11-20 - Out of Left Field: Fish Out Of Contention 2012-11-13 - Out of Left Field: What $205 Million Buys on... More...	MORE OUT OF LEFT FIELD 2013-01-15 - Out of Left Field: Giving Miami the Silent T... 2013-01-09 - Out of Left Field: Jumping the Gun on 2013 P... 2012-12-18 - Out of Left Field: What the Internet Can Tea... 2012-12-04 - Out of Left Field: Josh Hamilton and Talking... 2012-11-27 - Out of Left Field: The Least Valuable Player 2012-11-20 - Out of Left Field: Fish Out Of Contention 2012-11-13 - Out of Left Field: What $205 Million Buys on... More...