Josh Hamilton goes to LA for 5 years

[GiantsFan14]

A lot of money for a guy who swung at pitches out of the zone 45.4% of the time last year and only made contact 52.1% of the time on those pitches. That's some terrible plate discipline and a lot of swinging and missing.

[Inukchuk]

I would have just signed Swisher rather than overpay for Hamilton, I think. A lot of risk in giving a long-term contract like this.

Definitely agree this would have been the safer and more cost effective move. That being said, it should be very interesting to see what Pujols can do with Hamilton batting behind him.

[GiantsFan14]

I would have just signed Swisher rather than overpay for Hamilton, I think. A lot of risk in giving a long-term contract like this.

Definitely agree this would have been the safer and more cost effective move. That being said, it should be very interesting to see what Pujols can do with Hamilton batting behind him.

Probably pretty much the same as he would do with Swisher or pretty much anyone else behind him.

[wrveres]

Greatest 3-4 combo ever?

really it's just Bonds/whoever batted 4th.

this

[bigh0rt]

If I was a recovering drug addict, Los Angeles would be firmly resting atop the places I want to be. How long does it take for a guy to put $125 million up his nose and in his veins?

[kab21]

I would have just signed Swisher rather than overpay for Hamilton, I think. A lot of risk in giving a long-term contract like this.

As for how good this makes the Angels, don't forget that Torri Hunter was more valuable than Hamilton last season. He's basically just going to be replacing that production. Greinke and Haren are also gone now. I'd expect them to be a playoff team, of course, but I'm not sure I'd call them WS favorites or anything.

I don't care what WAR says. This isn't true.

there might be a lot of risk in the contract but Hamilton is a difference maker and there is every indication that inflation is going to go crazy in the next few years in baseball.

[kellythemick]

That's a big hit to the Rangers. It will be interesting to see if they make some reactionary moves.

Greatest 3-4 combo ever?

Gehrig and Ruth.

Yep!

[kellythemick]

That's a big hit to the Rangers. It will be interesting to see if they make some reactionary moves.

Greatest 3-4 combo ever?

Gehrig and Ruth.

Yep!

Though my curmudgeonly side wants to say Mays/McCovey and end of discussion.

[AussieDodger]

If I was a recovering drug addict, Los Angeles would be firmly resting atop the places I want to be. How long does it take for a guy to put $125 million up his nose and in his veins?

Yep this was my first reaction.

If I had to risk $100mil on a player, it wouldn't be Josh Hamilton. It might not look like it at the moment (if you're blinded by all the extra-base hits), but this contract has the whiff of Zito/Vernon Wells to me. Lucky it's only 5 years.

[J35J]

I would have just signed Swisher rather than overpay for Hamilton, I think. A lot of risk in giving a long-term contract like this.

As for how good this makes the Angels, don't forget that Torri Hunter was more valuable than Hamilton last season. He's basically just going to be replacing that production. Greinke and Haren are also gone now. I'd expect them to be a playoff team, of course, but I'm not sure I'd call them WS favorites or anything.

I don't care what WAR says. This isn't true.

Agreed...I just don't like how defense is calculated in WAR(though Hunter did have a solid offensive season)...or maybe I don't like how defense is calculated and then since WAR uses that faulty metric it makes WAR faulty, IMHO. But that topic has been beat to death so back to your regularly scheduled topic...