Reports circulating that Rangers potentially agreeing to 4 yr deal with Hamilton. I personally wanted him gone after he dropped that catch and completely forgot about everything he did for the previous 5 yrs. How would you guys feel about Hamilton returning? Do you still want him gone or would like him back since he took a lesser deal?

My stance all along has been to keep him if the price is right. I'd prefer a 4/$90 deal, but 4/$105 is probably closer to what he'll get.

If Hamilton returns, I hope he does some more soul searching this offseason and I look forward to what Magadan can bring to the table.

If Hamilton was a free agent at the end of June he might have broken the hot stove. When the guy is "right" he's the best in the game, a difference maker, somebody that can carry 8 other guys and make fans forget about a -1.7WAR DH. I want players like that on my team, but I don't want them to feel like their entitled to anything.

Yeah I was loving the way Hamilton was playing the first half. He looked like the best player in baseball. 4 yr deal would be perfect for Rangers. But its still not set in stone.

I was mad at Josh for losing his head late in the season, but not to the point of booing him, and I would have been sad to see him go at the time I thought some other team would be crazy enough to give him 6-7 years. I'm glad it's possible he'll be back, and for a more reasonable contract length/price. I don't think his issues this year were a sense of entitlement. I just think he's mentally an incredibly fragile guy - I believe that he actually thought his inability to kick his chewing tobacco habit was an affront to God and made him the worst person in the world. That fragility is something that just needs to be continually managed.

If the Rangers resign Hamilton, I don't see how one of the outfielders doesn't get shipped off. They are paying Martin way too much to ride the pine or rake in Round Rock. I have a feeling its going to be Murph...but who knows with JD and crew.

I think Cruz is more likely, if they can find a suitor, as he's making more $.

Really, though, I'd rather they did something with Young so that he's not part of the everyday lineup, and let guys like Josh and Cruz alternate at DH. Josh has no business being in CF, although I imagine he probably still will be a lot.

I'd bet on keeping Cruz in a contract year and recoup a pick if he leaves next year. Besides, I don't think Murph has the arm to play out there, Gentry doesn't have the bat, so that leaves Martin as your everyday RF (unless we move Josh out there). Muphy is the obvious odd man out IMO. Still cheap, coming off a career year, and is a LH bat in a position we don't really need it.

"I'd bet on keeping Cruz in a contract year and recoup a pick if he leaves next year."

Cruz will net a pick? Don't forget to factor in that it will take a qualifying offer around $14 million to get a pick if he signs, and that the Rangers didn't deem Napoli worth one in a catcher-scarce market..

The guy seems to have repeated difficulty seeing the ball during day games...too much liability. Hopefully Rangers don't take the bait, otherwise it'll be game 162 all over again....

If Cruz can hit .270+ and 30HR again that's an easy bet he'll turn down that offer. This is his best shot at a career contract.

Like I said, hope he has a carrer year in pursuit of that contract.

Not sure if it means anything, but Josh tweeted a pic of him and his old lady headed back to Dallas yesterday. I guess they heard everything they needed to hear in Nashville.

World Series 2013

I am still torn but I believe the Rangers would be better off in the long run letting Josh go.
When he is great, there is almost no one better but when he is bad, he is really bad.

He has to be a distraction to the team as it is rumored the players got tired of answering questions about him and Mike Adams in a interview even said he was unsure if it would be in the Rangers best interest to resign him as you never know what player is going to show up. When Josh was in his 2 month slump he would not work with the coaches to find his way out as God was punishing him. Instead of hitting the cages and watching hours on end of tape to find his flaw he just said "Only God can fix me".

His natural ability is carrying his a player. One of the most feared hitters in baseball almost never walks and pitchers have a good excuse to pitch around him.

He lacks patience at the plate, lack ability to take direction, lacks the ability to remained focus on the game and we have not even begun to talk about his steep decline as being one of the top defensive players around to be replaced by Gentry in CF.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/8604371/mike-adams-formerly-texas-rangers-said-team-never-knew-which-josh-hamilton-show-up

http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2012/08/03/whats-wrong-with-josh-hamilton-ctd-2/