Rangers close to reacquiring outfielder Josh Hamilton
— -- Josh Hamilton is headed back to the Texas Rangers.
The Los Angeles Angels are "very close" to finalizing a deal to send Hamilton to the Rangers, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday. Hamilton will be rejoining the franchise where he made five straight All-Star teams, won the American League MVP award in 2010 and helped lead the Rangers to back-to-back AL pennants in 2010 and 2011.
MLB.com earlier reported the deal, with sources telling the website a deal likely will be announced Monday after legal work between the teams is completed.
Hamilton, 33, has been a major disappointment since signing a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in December 2012. He hit .255 with a .741 OPS in his first two seasons in Anaheim and was expected to miss the start of this season with a shoulder injury.
The Angels owe Hamilton $83 million through 2017. Yahoo! Sports reports that the Rangers are expected to pay around $15 million, with the Angels paying the difference.
He suffered a substance abuse relapse during the offseason and did not report to the Angels' spring camp in Arizona. Three weeks ago, an arbitration panel ruled that he would not be suspended -- paving the way for him to return in May once he completed the rehab on his shoulder.
But the Angels made it clear through their public comments that they were unhappy with the decision and resistant to having the outfielder rejoin the team. General manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement that the Angels had "serious concerns about Josh's conduct, health and behavior,'' and club president John Carpino told reporters that it "defies logic" that Hamilton wasn't suspended under MLB's drug program.
It appeared the Angels might be reaching out to Hamilton when manager Mike Scioscia and several teammates had dinner with the outfielder during the team's recent series in Houston. But Hamilton recently put his $16.5 million Southern California home up for sale, according to reports, and Angels are now on the verge of ending his brief and unproductive tenure in Anaheim.
Even as he has struggled with the Angels the past two seasons, Hamilton still has hit well in Texas. In 70 plate appearances there since 2013, he has hit .339 (21-of-62). Only Seattle Mariners second baseman Kyle Seager (.395) has posted a better average at Globe Life Park over that span.
The Rangers, meanwhile, could use outfield help.
Their outfield ranks 29th and 28th this season in batting average (.194) and OPS (.576), respectively, entering Friday night.
Information from ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.
