Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The MLB as well as its fans have been waiting very patiently to see where free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton will land. That may finally be about to change.
Anthony Gargano of 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia says that he has information from a good source that the Philadelphia Phillies have offered Hamilton a three-year deal. The reported deal was worth about $80 million. Rumors across Twitter have been swirling for the past couple of weeks that Hamilton would be a great fit in Philadelphia.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said earlier this week that he will begin looking to acquire a power bat for a corner outfield position. Hamilton’s name has been thrown out there along with players like Cody Ross, Josh Willingham, Alfonso Soriano and Nick Swisher.
If the Phillies were to sign Hamilton, then they would be paying him a salary of about $25 million per year with incentives. Hamilton, who turns 32 this season, is coming off a tremendous year offensively where he hit .285 with 43 home runs and 128 runs batted in. Despite the great numbers, Hamilton saw his strikeout rate increase to 162 times in 562 at bats.
Hamilton would be a great offensive addition to a Phillies lineup that is in desperate need of some pop. The only problem that the Phillies would have is that Hamilton, along with current Phillies stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, bats left-handed. The problem with the Phillies over the past couple of seasons is that their lineup has been too left-handed, which is the reason why Howard and Utley has struggled late in games. Lefty-specialist relievers have been able to control the heart of the Phillies lineup by pitching around the right-handers to get to them.
If the rumors are in fact true, the Phillies will be giving Hamilton one of the biggest contracts per year in major league history. Hamilton would be a great fit wherever he indeed signs, but Philadelphia may not be the best spot at the moment.
David A. Cattai is a featured sports journalist with Rant Sports & Buzz On Broad.
Follow me on Twitter (@DCattaiSports), Facebook, and Google+ for all sports updates.
