The Los Angeles Angels are working on a trade that would send slugger Josh Hamilton back to the Texas Rangers, multiple media outlets reported Friday.
reported a trade probably will be announced Monday after legal work between the teams is completed.
The Angels owe Hamilton $83 million through 2017. The Rangers are expected to pay a total of around $15 million, with Los Angeles paying the difference, according to Yahoo Sports.
Hamilton, 33, has been a major disappointment since signing a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in December 2012. He hit .255 with a .741 OPS in his first two seasons in Anaheim and has missed the start of this season because of a shoulder injury that landed him on the 15-day disabled list.
Hamilton, the 2010 American League MVP, also has fallen out of favor with the Angels after confessing to a relapse with cocaine and alcohol in February.
Three weeks ago, an arbitration panel ruled he would not be suspended, paving the way for him to return in May once he completed rehab on his shoulder.
The Angels made it clear they were unhappy with the panel’s decision and resistant to having the outfielder rejoin the team.
General manager Jerry Dipoto said the Angels had “serious concerns about Josh’s conduct, health and behavior,” and club president John Carpino told reporters that it “defies logic” that Hamilton wasn’t suspended under MLB’s drug program.
Angels owner Arte Moreno recently said Hamilton might never play for the Angels again.
“He was here before, so we know him,” third baseman Adrian Beltre told The Dallas Morning News. “If he can help us win games, I’m open to it. … If he comes here, I hope he is in a good place. I hope he can be the Josh we all know.”
Hamilton hit more than 30 homers with at least 100 RBIs in three of his five seasons with the Rangers, and in his final year in Texas, hit .285 with 43 homers and 128 RBIs.
