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Reports: Josh Hamilton has drug relapse

 
Josh Hamilton, a former Ray whose troubled past includes a well-chronicled addiction to cocaine and alcohol that got him suspended from baseball from 2003-05, confessed to the relapse, cbssports.com reported. [EVE EDELHEIT | Times]
Josh Hamilton, a former Ray whose troubled past includes a well-chronicled addiction to cocaine and alcohol that got him suspended from baseball from 2003-05, confessed to the relapse, cbssports.com reported. [EVE EDELHEIT | Times]
Published Feb. 26, 2015

TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels leftfielder Josh Hamilton, who has had drug and alcohol problems, met with Major League Baseball officials about a binge that involved cocaine a few months ago, cbssports.com reported Wednesday.

The Angels are bracing for possible penalties, said the Los Angeles Times, which first reported a disciplinary meeting between Hamilton and MLB officials.

Hamilton, a former Ray whose troubled past includes a well-chronicled addiction to cocaine and alcohol that got him suspended from baseball from 2003-05, confessed to the relapse, cbssports.com reported.

General manager Jerry Dipoto declined to tell the Los Angeles Times what prompted league officials to summon Hamilton or when the situation might be resolved. Hamilton's agent, Michael Moye, did not return several messages from the newspaper. MLB spokesman Pat Courtney declined to comment.

Hamilton, 33, is entering the third year of a five-year, $125 million deal. He is recovering from surgery Feb. 4 on his right shoulder. He had not reported to spring training. The Angels had allowed Hamilton to remain in Houston at a friend's ranch to rehabilitate, an odd arrangement considering most players remain with their teams while recovering from injury during spring training or the regular season.

Hamilton, scheduled to earn $25 million this season, was projected to be the cleanup or No. 5 hitter, but the injury was expected to keep him out until at least May.

Hamilton led the Rangers to the World Series in 2010 and 2011 and won American League most valuable player honors in 2010. But he has been a bust in Anaheim, hitting .255 with 31 homers, 123 RBIs and 266 strikeouts in two seasons marked by injury and underachievement.

Speed rules: Players are against many of the radical changes introduced during the Arizona Fall League to speed games. Players association head Tony Clark is encouraging his membership to make slight adjustments that will improve the pace of games without completely altering the way they do their jobs. A former All-Star first baseman and the first player to head the union, Clark said at the first stop of his spring training tour in Scottsdale, Ariz., that extreme methods aren't feasible at the sport's highest level. Players agreed to time limits for between-innings breaks and pitching changes, and a requirement that batters keep one foot in the box in many instances.

Braves: New rightfielder Nick Markakis doesn't plan to be in the lineup when spring training games begin next week. He had fusion surgery for a herniated neck disc Dec. 17.

Cardinals: Pitcher Adam Wainwright called his trip to meet with doctors in St. Louis about his lower abdominal pain strictly precautionary. Wainwright said he first felt the injury in a Monday weight room session. The pain occurs when he runs or lunges.

Rangers: Ace Yu Darvish faced hitters for the first time since August, throwing 30 pitches against teammates during live batting practice. Darvish missed the final seven weeks last season because of right elbow inflammation. Darvish said his command felt good and he had some power on the ball.

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