Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Don Sutton Fun Facts, Hamilton

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Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) reacts after grounding into a double play against the Kansas City Royals in the 10th inning in game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

How an Atlanta Braves, Josh Hamilton deal makes sense for both

GENE SAPAKOFF / (CHARLSTON) POST & COURIER

Josh Hamilton was at his baseball happiest at The Joe, as a 19-year-old kid with a $3,960,000 million signing bonus living at Folly Beach and batting .302 with the 2000 Charleston RiverDogs.

Greenville was a critical part of Hamilton’s rehabilitation from a drug and alcohol battle that cost him three full seasons. Richard Davis, owner of Charleston’s Trademark Properties, put Hamilton to work as a project manager moving Shoeless Joe Jackson’s boyhood home to a museum site aside Greenville’s new Fluor Field in 2006.

When Hamilton returned to South Carolina in 2010, it was as an All-Star outfielder preparing to lead the Texas Rangers into the first of two straight World Series. The Rangers played a March exhibition game against Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach, and the little kid came out in the Raleigh native.

“It’s been a long time since I had Bojangles,” Hamilton said that day. “When we got here last night, that’s all I could think about. So I woke up and first thing this morning went to Bojangles. I loved every minute of it.”

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For Atlanta, Hamilton should come at minimum risk and great value. Surely, a bitter Moreno will wise up and offer to pay most of Hamilton’s salary to get him as far away from Anaheim as possible.

Hamilton is an excellent clubhouse guy who eagerly works with young players. MLB Network Radio analyst Jim Duquette said Wednesday that Michael Moye, Hamilton’s agent, has told teams interested in the five-time All-Star that he is willing to insert protective clauses into a revised contract for the right deal (Moye, by the way, is based in Atlanta).

For Hamilton, Atlanta is the perfect fit.

It gets him closer to his family in Raleigh, his friends in both Carolinas and Bojangles.

Anything but the Angels.

[ Ed. Note: I truly don’t see it… not even if the Angels outright released Hamilton, which isn’t likely. Yes, the Braves could stash him in LF, perhaps, but … yeah, I just don’t see it, and especially not for 3 years. ]

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