Rangers acquire Hamilton
If anything, the Texas Rangers' clubhouse just got a heavy dose of perspective when the club acquired outfield Josh Hamilton in a trade with Cincinnati.
Hamilton's story is well-known. The former No. 1 overall draft pick -- ahead of Josh Beckett -- struggled with a serious drug addiction that eventually led to his suspension from baseball.
He came back last season, played in the majors for the first time and picked up 151,000 write-in votes for the All-Star Game. Now he's a Ranger.
The price? Two young pitchers. Right-hander Edinson Volquez once was part of the Rangers' DVD Trio. That would be John Danks, Volquez and Thomas Diamond, once the gems of the Texas farm system. Now Danks is a Chicago White Sox, Volquez is in Cincinnati and Diamond is rehabbing after Tommy John surgery.
Most of the time, giving up young pitching is something the Rangers can't afford. In this case, however, they landed an impact bat who still has something to prove, making it a shrewd deal for Texas.
Hamilton's story is well-known. The former No. 1 overall draft pick -- ahead of Josh Beckett -- struggled with a serious drug addiction that eventually led to his suspension from baseball.
He came back last season, played in the majors for the first time and picked up 151,000 write-in votes for the All-Star Game. Now he's a Ranger.
The price? Two young pitchers. Right-hander Edinson Volquez once was part of the Rangers' DVD Trio. That would be John Danks, Volquez and Thomas Diamond, once the gems of the Texas farm system. Now Danks is a Chicago White Sox, Volquez is in Cincinnati and Diamond is rehabbing after Tommy John surgery.
Most of the time, giving up young pitching is something the Rangers can't afford. In this case, however, they landed an impact bat who still has something to prove, making it a shrewd deal for Texas.
posted by Jason Pugh at
9:59 PM
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