Angels Owner Arte Moreno on Friday "would not guarantee" that LF Josh Hamilton, who still has three years and $83M left on his five-year, $125M contract, "will play" for the team again following his substance abuse issues, according to Jeff Miller of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Moreno said, "I think, more than anything, we look at accountability. All of our employees, all of our players have to have accountability. I think that’s the word here." Friday’s developments "conjured up words like posturing, bullying and naïveté." Miller wrote Moreno's comments were "just another blow to the already staggered relationship between the Angels and Hamilton." They also "left a franchise that has been criticized in the way it has handled the Hamilton situation from the start, now looking, at best, badly misinformed and, at worst, totally clueless" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/11). In L.A., Mike DiGiovanna wrote Moreno's stance has "put Angels players in an awkward position." Hamilton "has been ostracized to the point in which he has not been issued a locker in the Angel Stadium clubhouse and merchandise bearing his name and number has been pulled from stadium team stores." It is "clear to players" that Moreno is "the driving force behind the anti-Hamilton sentiment." Angels P C.J. Wilson said, "It doesn't seem like any bridges are being built -- it seems like a fairly contentious situation." He added, "No one is talking to us about it. We're supposed to stay out of the loop. But it's fairly obvious what their intentions are" (L.A. TIMES, 4/12).
The N.Y. Daily News’ Mike Lupica said, “This is a shameful thing that Mr. Moreno is doing ... because he doesn't like looking like a fool in front of the rest of the baseball world. He is the guy that signed this contract." The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan: “I have no sympathy for Arte Moreno" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 4/12).
POSTPONING THE INEVITABLE? In L.A., Bill Shaikin wrote Hamilton's divorce from the team "appears inevitable" as long as Moreno is the owner. When Moreno "suggested he might have contractual recourse to recover at least part" of Hamilton's remaining $83M, the MLBPA "responded with a sharply worded statement that essentially said this: No, you don't." The union is "waiting to see how the Angels treat" Hamilton (L.A. TIMES, 4/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown noted the Angels have rehired Shayne Kelley, who had "served as Hamilton's accountability partner for two seasons" before Hamilton "reduced that role" after '13. Meanwhile, the Angels "continue to act as though Hamilton's struggle with addiction is a personal affront to them." The team acts as though the "accountability issue rests entirely with Hamilton," and what they are "really concerned about is the money" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/11).
