Josh Hamilton had a drug relapse six years ago. Hamilton had three years left on his contract with the Angels, but owner Arte Moreno pointedly refused to say that Hamilton would play another game for the team.
“I will not say that,” Moreno said. Hamilton never did play another game for the Angels. Moreno exiled him to Texas, paying almost all of the $83 million left on the contract. To Moreno, the contract was secondary to holding Hamilton accountable to the values the outfielder had pledged to the owner he would uphold.