Should Angels Owner Arte Moreno continue to look into recouping "at least some of his investment" in LF Josh Hamilton, the commissioner's office and the MLBPA "could face off in a second arbitration hearing" concerning the former AL MVP, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Moreno last week said that he "might try to enforce contract language that he said protected the Angels against a substance-abuse relapse by Hamilton." Within hours, the union issued a sharply worded statement that said provisions of the league's drug policy "explicitly prevent clubs from exactly the type of action Mr. Moreno alluded to." MLB Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem yesterday said, "We obviously have a different view than the players' association regarding the club's rights under these circumstances." Shaikin notes Hamilton "is not expected to be able to play for at least another month" and Moreno "is not believed to be considering any imminent action" (L.A. TIMES, 4/16). FOXSPORTS.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote if Moreno tries to pursue the matter, he will "face resistance from the players union and engage in what would appear to be an uphill fight." Such a confrontation "likely would not take place anytime soon; Moreno already is obligated to pay" Hamilton’s $23M salary for '15. Hamilton "also is owed" $30M in both '16 and ’17. Sources said that Moreno "could argue" that because MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "was precluded from acting on Hamilton, the club is free to enforce the language in the player’s contract" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/15).
PUNDITS CALL TEAM EMBARRASSING: FS1's Mike Hill said the Angels "should be embarrassed" by the way they are handling the Hamilton situation. Hill: "It's about what he's doing on the field, not what's happened off the field with the Angels" ("America's Pregame," FS1, 4/14). The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke called the Angels' actions "absolutely embarrassing," as the team is "just discarding him." ESPN's Israel Gutierrez said, "You can't help but wonder how he would have been treated if he was still with the Rangers -- the team that knows him better -- or if he was actually hitting to his potential under this current contract. I guarantee you he would be treated differently" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/14).
TAKING A PERSONAL INTEREST: Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that the club is "hoping to 'connect'” with Hamilton during this week’s trip to Texas. In California, Jeff Fletcher noted the Angels through Sunday will be in Houston, where "they say Hamilton has been rehabbing" from a shoulder injury. Scioscia: “We’ll be down there and hopefully connect with him face to face. We want to connect with him and see where everything is. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to see him" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/14). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said, "I don't agree at all with the way ownership of the Angels is handling Josh Hamilton in this situation, but I do like the idea that Mike Scioscia is reaching out to him. I hope Josh Hamilton meets with him in Houston because he's the manager. He's looking at it and saying, 'I care about this kid. Our players care about it. We want him back and he can help our ball club. Let's try to treat him like a human being'" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/14).
