5 Reasons Josh Hamilton Should Give Texas Rangers a Hometown Discount

Texas Rangers' star outfielder Josh Hamilton has a contract that is expiring at the end of this season, making him a free agent. 

He is off to an incredible start thus far, creating the belief that he is driving his price up every game—should he stay healthy, of course. 

If a deal is not reached before the season ends, here are some reasons Hamilton might consider giving Texas a hometown discount.

Rangers Gave Him a Fresh Start

After being out of baseball for three years, it was the Cincinnati Reds who initially gave Hamilton his second chance to be a big-league ball player. 

He was productive in his only season in Cincinnati, considering all he had been through the previous few years. He played 90 games, batting just under .300 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI.

However, it was the Rangers who really took the leap of faith on him. They traded Edinson Volquez, one of their top pitching prospects at the time, to the Reds with the expectation that Hamilton’s problems were behind him and he was finally ready to be the player he was capable of being. Hamilton was made the starting center fielder in 2008, and everyone probably remembers the season he had that year. 

There is a good chance Hamilton still becomes a great player with the Reds, but that is still not a guarantee. 

If there is one area where Hamilton feels most loyal to the Rangers, it is probably the fact that they gave him a fresh start and the opportunity to be a regular contributor to the team.   

Fan Support

Hamilton will have a tough time finding the type of fan support in other cities that mirrors what he has in Texas. This support is probably as close to unconditional as a person can find in any sport.

He has two well-chronicled relapses in the past three years, plus a terrible accident when a fan named Shannon Stone fell to his death after attempting to catch a foul ball thrown by Hamilton. Yet, despite these incidents and his history of injury, the fans have never left his side. Some even created a Facebook page where people could leave encouraging messages for him after Stone’s accident.  

In Texas, he is not judged by the number of zeros in his contract, like he might should he sign an enormous deal with another team.  

Texas isn’t technically a “baseball town” like Boston or St. Louis, but Rangers’ fans still recognize and appreciate great talent when they see it.

Organizational Support

Then, there is the organizational structure Hamilton has in Texas with Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels and Ron Washington.

These three have been around since the first day Hamilton arrived in spring training for the Rangers. At the time, he was an unknown player trying to make his second chance in the majors count, while Texas was a struggling franchise trying to become relevant.

Now, he is a multiple All-Star and MVP, with countless fans aware of his skill and story of redemption. The Rangers have also transformed into one of the top organizations in baseball. Both started at the bottom and worked their way up together.

There is also the rapport he has developed with his teammates over the years. They deserve just as much credit for their support of Hamilton as the fans and front office.

It’s always tough for a player to leave the friendships he develops in the locker room, but what Hamilton has been through the past few years with these players will be hard to replicate someplace else. 

Comfort Zone

These three factors together create a comfort zone for Hamilton that would be worth a hometown discount.

He seems comfortable with his role on the team and plays in a city where most of the real scrutiny happens across the street at Cowboys Stadium. 

Hamilton also has four young children, most of whom have really never known any other home than Texas. If they also feel comfortable in the area, that could possibly be a big factor in his decision. 

Established Winner

There are plenty of good teams with deep pockets, but there is also a good chance some mediocre ones will empty their savings in an attempt to sign Hamilton. Why not? He is one of the most recognizable and marketable players in the game.

There are often players who leave their teams via free agency for bigger opportunities, such as the chance to compete in the playoffs. The difference in Texas is that the Rangers are already an established winner. They are well stocked to compete now and in the future.  

Hamilton turns 31 in May and probably isn’t expecting to spend the last few years of his prime lost in the shuffle of poor teams, even if he is playing with a huge contract.