As trade rumors swell around the Texas Rangers, slugger Josh Hamilton will be sitting out from Major League Baseball for four weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury.
According to a report in the Associated Press, the Rangers announced that Hamilton would be sidelined for about four weeks after suffering from a strained left hamstring. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list last week.
"Everything in me said, 'You should probably wrap your leg," Hamilton said. "And it's like, no; I don't need to wrap it. It will be good for one at-bat. It's a lesson learned."
Hamilton added that he second-guessed himself for aggravating a tight hamstring.
"It's frustrating more than anything," Hamilton said. "You do all the work to get back to this point. I'll be going every day to get right and get ready, so that when I come back I'll be able to make that immediate impact."
According to the Associated Press, Hamilton missed two games with tightness before an MRI. He was hitting .273 with two home runs and five RBI during a game on May 31.
"The roster moves left Texas with only three position players on its bench," the Associated Press wrote. "Delino DeShields and Jake Smolinski could play left field while Hamilton is out."
Rangers manager Jeff Banister told the Associated Press that he does not expect Joey Gallo to shift from third base to left field. That's because Gallo has only been in the major leagues for a very short time.
"Joey could go play in the outfield, but I'd really like to just allow this young man to kind of settle in," Banister said.
Although Hamilton is on the disabled list due to the hamstring injury, Marcia C. Smith of Orange County Register pointed out that he was once part of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. However, he was traded to the Rangers back on April 27 for "salvage money."
"The Angels essentially paid him to go away after his admission of a late February drug and alcohol relapse caused them to be concerned about his conduct, behavior, health and overall commitment to the team," Smith wrote. "He had broken their trust."
Smith added that the Angels will "continue to pay the remaining bulk of the three seasons left on a five-year, $125 million deal." She elaborated on his time at the Angels.
"Hamilton arrived in Anaheim as a free agent after five seasons with the Rangers during which he hit .305, with a .549 slugging percentage and 142 home runs, won a 2010 AL MVP award and was a five-time All-Star," Smith wrote.
However, Smith pointed out that in his two seasons with the Angels, Hamilton "battled career-worst slumps, more injuries, hit just .255 (.426 slugging), with 31 total homers and 123 total RBI in 240 games." Angels fans expressed their disappointment with him.
"I'm still bitter about Josh," 34-year-old Raul Ramirez of Anaheim said. "I'm only wearing his jersey because it cost me like $200, and I don't want to buy another new one yet."
"If he's on the disabled list, at least he isn't hurting the Angels anymore," Angels fan Lisa Gutierrez said.
Smith noted that with Hamilton temporarily sidelined, the Angels would have an easier time defending their 2014 AL West title.
"It might take a long time, if ever, before Hamilton won't remind us of the hurt he left behind," Smith wrote.
