Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim owner Arte Moreno’s net worth is currently valued at around $1.1 billion. All of that money has allowed Moreno to go out and acquire big name players, namely Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, Torii Hunter, Albert Pujols, and most recently Josh Hamilton.
Josh Hamilton dominated the American League during his five year stint with the Texas Rangers. He was a five time All-Star, won a batting title, an MVP award, hit over thirty home runs three times, and drove in 100 or more runs three times. But, while Hamilton was dominating the American League, something else was dominating him; addiction.
Addiction is a disease in every sense of the word. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes addiction as “a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual.”
In Josh Hamilton’s case, chronic is an understatement.
We first heard of his addiction when Hamilton came out in 2008 and said he had not abused drugs since 2005. Three years clean for any addict is a long time, and it was too good to be true. In 2009, Hamilton admitted to having a relapse with alcohol, while with the Texas Rangers. And again 2012, while still on the Rangers, Hamilton had another relapse with alcohol, for which he apologized.
What did the Rangers do? The organization supported him. When the Rangers won back-to-back American League Pennants, they celebrated with ginger ale instead of champagne, to be mindful of Hamilton’s situation. Rangers General Manager, Jon Daniels, said he appreciated Hamilton’s honesty and willingness to comply throughout the whole process, and that it had not gone unnoticed.
Fast forward four years to 2013. Josh Hamilton signed a five year deal worth $125 million. Who recruited Hamilton? Arte Moreno. Who’s money was it that made that deal possible? Arte Moreno’s. Now two years into the deal, Hamilton relapsed again and Arte Moreno, the same man that coveted Hamilton so much, is ready to throw him to the wolves.
On February 26, 2015, Josh Hamilton had another relapse, which he confessed to MLB officials, including commissioner Rob Manfred. This latest relapse is what has caused a lot of controversy. Arte Moreno seems hellbent on making sure that the Angels don’t have to pay the remainder of Hamilton’s contract, making sure that he never plays another game in Anaheim, and particularly hellbent on making sure that Hamilton gets reprimanded.
To solve this dispute, there have been talks of a potential contact buyout, trading Hamilton, or suspending him. None of these are tantamount to a solution. Trading Hamilton shows that the Angels and Moreno don’t care enough to try and help Hamilton and that he should be another team’s burden. Buying out Hamilton’s contract shows that Moreno is only concerned with money, not the well being of his players. Now the last option, suspension. The problem with suspending Hamilton is that he doesn’t deserve that. He’s sick and needs help, and reprimanding Hamilton isn’t helping him.
Mr. Moreno’s handling of this whole situation is disgusting. Mr. Moreno would probably hesitate to admit that, but deep down, he must know that what he’s doing is wrong.
For his sake, get Josh Hamilton away from the Angels and to a team and organization that will support him.
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