Meanwhile, In The AL West
Bummed about the Mariners losing two in a row to the Angels, after a promising opening day? That’s fine! We all are. On the other hand, at least the Mariners aren’t currently doing their damnedest to throw one of their most expensive players under the bus. Hit it, Arte Moreno.
Moreno, asked if he can say Hamilton will play another game with #Angels: “I will not say that.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 11, 2015
Moreno says Angels have separate language in Hamilton’s contract vs relapse and they may try to enforce it.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 11, 2015
Kind of scummy, in that the Angels are clearly just trying to rid themselves of a problem contract, without showing any compassion for the player. They knew what they were signing, and they went ahead with it — Moreno and Josh Hamilton shook hands in the introductory press conference. I’ll say this, though: specifically because Hamilton had a known history, it would make sense for the Angels to try to include some protective language, if that’s even allowed. And then, you know, it’s their right to try to enforce it, or anything else, since contracts are contracts. Anything mutually agreed to becomes enforceable at any point. It’s just, sayyyyyy, what’s that?
Arte Moreno: Hamilton contract contains no special language protecting #Angels from relapse, aside from usual MLB drug policy language.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) December 15, 2012
Oh, I get it, Moreno. You’re a liar! You know, like an asshole! Doesn’t mean he was lying today — could mean he was lying a few years ago. But, it doesn’t get much more black and white than this. Arte Moreno directly contradicted himself, and there’s one thing that’s changed over time — Josh Hamilton’s circumstances. At one point, he was an All-Star outfielder. At another point, he’s a massive disappointment fresh off a relapse. I wonder what might be causing Arte Moreno to treat him differently?
To be truthful, every team in baseball would probably act like this. I mean, not like this, but every team would have interest in voiding a bad contract, if at all possible. The big difference: other teams wouldn’t be doing this in the public arena. The Angels are making themselves look like total pricks, and though that does nothing to improve the Mariners’ odds of winning the 2015 World Series, it’s a kind of schadenfreude. We’re used to our organization being the one that looks stupid and tactless. Now we’re not even the second-worst offender in our own division. How does Arte Moreno sleep at night? On a comfortable bed in a large house, with impossible amounts of money to his name. But, also, he sucks.
Oh, and, before I go, Derek Holland will be out two months with a shoulder injury. On the plus side for the Rangers, Ryan Rua and Shin-Soo Choo were also removed from a game with injuries. Their injuries appear more minor. That is literally the plus side for the Rangers right now. They have injuries that could’ve been worse.
I think it makes more sense for Arte Moreno to have lied when they originally signed him. Lying at the press conference keeps everyone upbeat, is a kind of public vote of confidence for Josh Hamilton and if he doesn’t relapse, no one is the wiser.
If Arte was lying now, there’s no point in even saying such a thing because nothing will come of it.
Moreno must’ve taken Jack Z’s “Player Relations 101” course over the winter.
Some pitchers have signed contracts agreeing to an additional year for not a lot of money if they have Tommy John surgery during the contract term and those have been upheld. Felix has agreed to play in 2020 for $1 million if he cannot play for 130 consecutive days due to elbow surgery before then. The players union didn’t contest those clauses. It would not be surprising if the Angels insisted on some such assurance in Hamilton’s contract, given his history of substance abuse. If such a clause exists there will be lawyers galore ready to fight for either side’s rights.