Joey touched on this today in his post, how do you feel about a long term
big dollar contract for Josh. I don't have an opinion yet which I guess is kind of like having an opinion.

However when you hear things about Josh from friends in Cincinnati like I have; that his skeletal structure is mismatched with his body size and he was projected to be injury prone. Then you read the article that was posted yesterday. You hear him say no more headfirst dives... well unless ... well maybe .. well he just did three times in a row on his second night back. Anyone has to stop and think or at least have pause about what the best course will be with Josh.

Somewhere inside Josh is something dark, nobody gets that deep into substance abuse without some kind of personal issues and then you have his calling out Dave Anderson followed up by the head first slide thing that came across as him telling the media to stop asking about the head first slide stuff.

From a business only perspective what is the best play with Josh? Leverage him for ACE type pitching or tons of prospects (pitchers) or try to lock him up long term or maybe overpay for shorter periods of time to minimize long term exposure?

In my business life I deal with talented but often troubled people and I see some small signs from Josh that give me concerns. But man the upside is so stratospheric that you want to risk it.

I'm NOT going to get into a contract issue, since Josh just signed one... BUT.
If Management and Coaches were concerned about his Hard Play and sliding
abilities... somebody needs to step-up, do their job and teach him HOW to
Hook Slide. Diving head first is nutZ, except for one reason... getting back to a
base on a pick off throw. Some how, the Art of the Hook Slide, has been lost.
I don't see anyone on the Rangers using it. That's almost criminally stupid, as
aggressive on the paths as the Rangers are. I'd certainly love to know why the
VOID in such a simple, yet most worthy technique.

I'd try for a contract with heavy playing time incentives. Ham do what Ham do. Dude is completely balls to the wall insane.

I agree, the only way that I would do anything longer than 2 years is if he agrees to major incentives based on playing time. Something like $8 mil base salary then $1 mil for every 10 games played would get him a chance for $24 mil if he stays completely healthy, which won't happen, so if he gets to 133 games like he did in his MVP year he gets paid $21 mil which is completely fair and probably a bargain for that type of season.

If he doesnt want to do that, then tell him that the team will go 2 year deals at a time or else he can walk and screw some other team for 5 yr/$140 mil

The guy may have his demons, he may play the game hard, maybe even too-hard considering how badly the team needs him, and he may even be a bad decision from the stand-point of business, but the guy is the heart and soul of our team. If it wasn't obvious during Josh's first swing off of the DL and the reactions of his teammates, I don't know what is. Just think, he's been with the Rangers since 2008. How many great memories has he already given the state of Texas in just 3 years? And really think about it...this guy's value cannot be determined buy the length/dollars in his contract, the amount of prospects that he could bring back in a trade, or the negativity surrounding his past. We all know the story of Josh Hamilton, a tale of truly inspirational redemption. Put the business aspect of baseball aside, even as ignorant as it sounds, and consider that without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers would have never made that magical run in 2010. Some things cannot be measured in terms of dollars or prospects.

Here's the issue. He's not going to sign anything but a long term deal with no incentive clauses, probably a no-trade in there as well. We've just been through a six week patch that underlines and highlights his value to this team.

Somebody is going to sign him to a huge deal when this contract is over. Unless he succumbs to his demons in the meantime, he will be pursued big time. And he will get a silly deal, in terms of money and years, regardless of who it is.

Would the Yankees move Swisher to make room for Hamilton? THe Red Sox would eat JD Drew's money to have Hamilton in right. I'd have to think a dozen teams would be in there on Hamilton.

No, there's not going to be any incentive-laden deal for Hamilton, because he doesn't have to. And he and his agent know it.

Therin, lies the connundrum!

Agree with what Mike G said. And I'm not sure he would sign with the Yankees. I could be completely wrong but I think his wife would want to keep the family away from that environment with so many 'tempatations' for Josh. He's going to get big money somewhere and maybe big money to Josh and his family is not the same as it is to Arod or Pujols. Maybe for Josh it will be more about where he wants to play and where he wants his family to live. Maybe it's somewhere east so he can be closer to home. Who knows...but we have him for the next 2 years and I will enjoy every inning he plays in our uni. Then I hope we find a way for him to retire as a Ranger whether it makes good business sense or not.

The Rangers go as far as Hamilton takes us, pay him and sign him. I THINK he is worth the risk, maybe he only plays 130 games a year, but that is probably enough because when he is in the lineup, this is a whole different ballclub. IMO

"Put the business aspect of baseball aside, even as ignorant as it sounds, and consider that without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers would have never made that magical run in 2010. Some things cannot be measured in terms of dollars or prospects."

Sorry, but even as fans, if we are going to discuss contract negotiations you simply can't put the business aspect aside. I appreciate what Josh brings to the table (when healthy) as much as anybody, but this type of attitude (overpaying for intangibles and/or past performance) is exactly the type of attitude that results in a Michael Young-like albatross contract that can restrict the franchise for years.

I think the only way i sign an long term extension with Hambone is one of two ways, its heavily incentive leaden based on PT. or two, he agrees to move to DH. (however his most serious injury occured while playing DH... so that may not matter.

The problem is he is the ultimate conundrum. he is physically the absolute perfect baseball player except he's injury prone. So you want him in the outfield cuz he can run down balls, throw ppl out, and do most things other players cant.... however he gets hurt too often in the outfield. That typically says DH. however like i said above, his most serious injury occured during him playing DH, and then we'll miss all that he's capable of in the field.

But who wants to see him go play anywhere else but here. Whether MY wants to "face" it or not.... Hambone is the face of the franchise now. I do wonder though if all that hamilton has been through if he would not be humble enough to accept 2-3 yr deals on a constant basis. He might be classy enough to oblige. I just honestly cant see him going Arod or Pujols on us, demanding a super long term deal. Thats not the hambone we all know... however we've been fooled before

I think the only way he takes a shorter contract is for more money and some options.

A short contract would also make him more attractive when it comes to trading him.

At least Josh Hamilton gives it 100% on every play. He busts his ass for us (the fans) and our beloved team day-in and day-out. He may be one of those guys that seems to have yearly stints on the DL, but he plays hard...something somebody with his salary should be doing (something every professional athlete should be doing). How many times have you seen Ian Kinsler hit a pathetic pop-up, drop his head/shoulders, and simply do a half-jog to first base? The answer is too many. This is why I loved Marlon Byrd...he actually ran 100% to first base, even on weakly hit balls to infielders. The point I'm trying to make is sure Josh Hamilton gets injured, but at least he gets injured playing as hard as he can for our team to win. He sets not only a great example with his hard-play in the dugout, but for young fans learning how to play the game of baseball.

Take what he gives for the remainder of his contract and be glad we got his best years. Do not give this guy long term money unless he agrees to a significant hometown discount, which he won't. (Who does, other than Jim Thome?) In today's MLB, it's extremely difficult to win with a mega contract player -- even a great and healthy one, like Pujols -- unless you're in New York or Boston.

We've seen "How the Team IS", without Hamilton on field, haven't we?

Joey touched on this today in his post, how do you feel about a long term
big dollar contract for Josh.

Terrible.

Someone is going to greatly overpay for him. He's been great, but we need to let him go after next year.

What! Rid Hamvp after next year? Can we first see if Roy Hobbs is an available replacement?