Angels Sign Hamilton, Win the Battle of the Media

           The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract, making them the talk of the MLB for the second straight offseason. 

            In the 2011 offseason the Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to big contracts.  This also makes the second straight offseason that the Angels have signed a star player away from the Texas Rangers.  The signing of Hamilton heightens two rivalries; the Angels’ rivalry with the Dodgers and a rivalry with the Rangers. 

            The Angels and the Dodgers seem to be battling for Southern California supremacy.  The Dodgers have been spending money like crazy as of late and it seems that the Angels have felt the need to make a splash as well.  Hamilton adds a huge name and a huge bat to the Angels lineup.  He joins Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and Pujols.  Hamilton is one of the biggest storylines as well.  The big news begins to heal the wound that Zach Greinke delivered to the Halos when he signed with their LA rival.  Hamilton flanking Trout in the outfield will surely put extra fans in the seats at Angel’s Stadium and will increase attention that is paid to the Angels. 

            Hamilton has made headlines for overcoming his drug and alcohol addictions to become an MVP and one of the game’s most dangerous hitters.  Hamilton can mash homeruns, but he has also made headlines for his extreme slumps and his two relapses.  Questions have been raised about Hamilton’s durability.  This is why it was believed that he would not get a huge contract, but the Angels were apparently not scared. 

            The Angels play the Rangers, Hamilton’s former team, 19 times per year.  Those 19 games are sure to be very highly watched and there will be much drama surrounding them.  The Angels and Rangers have already had a fierce rivalry, and this will only accelerate it. 

            The troubling story that came from this was that former Angels outfielder, Torii Hunter, was apparently deceived by the Angels organization.  Hunter took to Twitter to announce that Angels’ owner Arte Moreno told him that there wouldn’t be enough money to resign him.  If this is true, it is a shame to see.  Hunter meant so much to the Angels organization.  An athlete of his caliber should not be treated as such. 

            Storylines like this make the MLB offseason more compelling than the bulk of the regular season.  Surely more eyes will be on the Angels’ new star-studded batting order.  Now it remains to be seen if the Angels put together a complete team, one with a rounded out rotation and a fixed bullpen that was awful in 2011.  If the Angels can do this they will be a scary team for anybody to face for years to come.