Angels close to deal with Josh Hamilton

[WildcatFan]

The one thing I question about this move is if Hamilton's numbers will drop because of that ballpark. Arlington is probably the best hitter's park in the majors and the Angels play in a pitcher friendly park.

From Passan: Hamilton vs. Angels, Rangers Park: .361/.403/.669. Hamilton vs. Angels, Angel Stadium: .260/.325/.440. Same pitching. Park matters.

[Brutus]

If you were a GM, you wouldn't be one for long. "We're going to give you 4 years and that's non-negotiable. I don't want to hear a counter-offer, just take it or leave it."

Again, that is absolutely not what happened. Go back and read what Jon Daniels said. Their 4-year offer was never even turned down nor was it propositioned as a "take it or leave it."

Hamilton's camp had not actually rejected their 4-year offer. The Angels stepped in and offered 5 years and they never got a chance to match or go beyond it.

Offering 5 years when the 4-year deal was being considered is bad negotiating. You would be throwing money away doing that. There was no reason to offer more because the previous deal had not even been rejected. Like I said, I wish I had you to negotiated with.

"Oh hey, I know I just offered you 4 year and you're considering it, but how about I give you 5 years instead?!"

[Chip R]

Offering 5 years when the 4-year deal was being considered is bad negotiating. You would be throwing money away doing that. There was no reason to offer more because the previous deal had not even been rejected. Like I said, I wish I had you to negotiated with.

"Oh hey, I know I just offered you 4 year and you're considering it, but how about I give you 5 years instead?!"

It's not bad negotiating if you want him bad enough. It's similar to a car salesman who has a customer that is interested in a certain car but is hedging because of the price. If the salesman wanted to sell that car so badly he would knock some money off the price of it and sell it right then and not let the customer go elsewhere. Sure, that customer may find out he can't get a better deal elsewhere but as a salesman, would you be willing to risk him leaving for a few hundred dollars? Of course there's a breaking point and if the customer wants the car at a much deeper discount, you don't make the sale.

Sure, Hamilton's camp didn't let the Rangers match and that's too bad for TEX if they really, really wanted to re-sign him. It may have been that Hamilton was just ready to move on because of how the season ended. There was a lot of disappointment with him from the fans and people in the front office said they didn't want him back for free. Nolan Ryan and Daniels may not have been of that mind but maybe Hamilton had had enough and they couldn't have got him even with a 5th year. And maybe the Angels told him that their offer was good right then and there. If he walked, they would have taken years or money off the deal.

But TEX may have lost Hamilton but they can save face with the fans who still wanted him to come back since they offered the 4 year deal and he didn't give them an opportunity to equal or better the offer. But if they really, really wanted him to come back, even if they offered him a 4 year deal, why not come back and offer him a 5th year if you haven't heard back from them in a few days? Maybe that's bad negotiation to you but if it got them what they wanted, who cares?