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The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract over the weekend. The exact details of the contract have been released, and Hamilton's deal is backloaded.
Here is the breakdown of his contract:
• $10 million signing bonus
• 2013: $15M
• 2014: $15M
• 2015: $23M
• 2016: $30M
• 2017: $30M
Hamilton also has a complete no-trade clause worked into this contract. There is also no clause to help the Angels if Hamilton happens to relapse to using drugs or alcohol, but they did include that Hamilton must submit a to a drug test three times per week.
Another interesting note about this deal is that Angels outfielder Vernon Wells will be making $21 million per year in 2013 and 2014.
Hamilton getting this deal is significant since he has endured a lot since he was the No. 1 overall pick back in 1999 by the Tampa Bay Rays. Most notably, he has gone through a well-noted addiction to drugs and alcohol which led to a three-year ban, to his return to the Majors with the Cincinnati Reds and most recently his All-Star success with the Texas Rangers.
Apparently, this deal came together very quickly as Hamilton said talks didn't get serious until this past Wednesday:
"Of course, I was surprised," said Hamilton, who, like many, thought the Angels were in heavy pursuit of pitcher Zack Greinke, who signed a six-year, $147-million deal with the Dodgers.
"They like to get after it. They like to get things done. We talked for about three days. I was excited to see they were excited, to see a team and people who really pursue you and want you."
The Angels are hoping that adding Hamilton to an already stacked offense that includes Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo will get the team back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.