Texas Rangers: Should Josh Hamilton be given one more chance?

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Free agent Veteran outfielder Josh Hamilton is cleared to participate in baseball activities. After undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last summer, it was believed that he was done. The Texas Rangers released Hamilton on August 23rd, but didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing him back.

According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the Rangers will work out Hamilton and they’ll consider signing him to a minor league contract if everything goes well. The workout is scheduled this week. The Rangers can use another designated hitter and outfielder for 2017.

Hamilton, 35, has one more year left on his five-year, $125 million dollar deal he signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012. He is due to earn $24 million in 2017. When the Angels dealt him to Texas, they agreed to pay a majority of the remainder of the money. Texas is only required to pay $2 million in 2017.

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From 2008 to 2012, Hamilton was a five-time all-star and was the 2010 American League’s most valuable player. He saw very little playing time when he returned to Texas in 2015. In 2016, he was expected to play left field, but that duty would end up going to Ian Desmond. Hamilton would go on to miss the entire 2016 season due to his third knee surgery in a nine-month span.

He is now aiming for one more chance to play baseball for the Texas Rangers. Hamilton can earn his shot this week.

If the Rangers decide to sign him to a minor league deal, they’ll need to make sure they don’t rush him. They don’t want to call him to the majors until he’s ready. When and if he returns to main roster, he needs to be healthy and not be rusty.

By the end of this week, there should be a decision made on whether or not to bring back Josh Hamilton.