ARLINGTON, texas — Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton said Friday that he had a relapse that started with “three or four” drinks at a Dallas-area bar this week, apologizing for a “weak moment” and insisting he will try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Hamilton, 30, said his actions “are mine that hurt a lot of people very close to me.” He was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. The former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the 2004 and 2005 seasons but has become one of the best players in baseball on a team that has won the last two American League pennants. He was the AL MVP in 2010.
But Hamilton this week had his second known alcohol-related relapse in three years. In January 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, Hamilton said he had been sober since Oct. 6, 2005.
Without being specific, Hamilton said his weak moment Monday night came for “personal reasons” with a family member. He said he walked to a restaurant to have dinner and ended up ordering “three or four drinks.”
Hamilton said he has not taken any drugs and had no thoughts of doing so. He said he has been tested for drugs twice this week, part of his normal routine. He said he expects to meet soon with Major League Baseball doctors and counselors in New York for an evaluation in his continued recovery.
“For everybody who I have hurt, for everybody — fans, kids, people who have addictions and look up to me — I apologize to you,” he said. “When you’re doing this, you don’t mean to hurt anybody. You only think you’re hurting yourself, but as I know, you’re hurting a lot of people.”
Garza, Cubs agree to deal
CHICAGO — Right-hander Matt Garza, who went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA last season with the Cubs, agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year deal with Chicago, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing.
Marcum remains with Brewers
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Shaun Marcum and the Brewers agreed to a one-year contract worth $7.73 million, just ahead of the start of their salary arbitration hearing. The right-hander was 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA last season.
Niemann loses arbitration case
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration, improving clubs to 2-0 in decisions this year.
Niemann, who was 11-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 23 starts last season, will earn $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million. Tampa Bay has never lost in six arbitration cases.
Footnotes
Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain has started throwing off a half-mound as part of a rehabilitation program after elbow ligament replacement surgery. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees at some point in the 2012 season.
• First baseman Dan Johnson, whose dramatic home run on the final night of the regular season helped Tampa Bay reach last year’s playoffs, agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox.
