Dave Cameron on Josh Hamilton

Dave Cameron takes a look at Josh Hamilton's impending free agency, his weird 2012 season (and career), and speculates on what sort of deal Hamilton is going to end up signing this offseason.

Cameron says that neither a 5 year, $125 million deal nor a January signing of a one year contract would surprise him, and notes that the Rangers seem prepared to let Hamilton walk.

At this point, if Hamilton takes a one year deal, I suspect it will be with the Rangers, unless he feels that their reluctance to give him a big, multi-year contract is enough of an affront that he'd rather just go elsewhere. I'm hard-pressed to think of a park better suited for Hamilton to show off in for a season, and it isn't as if the Rangers wouldn't have room for him in the outfield in 2013. A one year, $20-25 million deal would probably be the best case scenario for Texas with Hamilton at this point.

More likely, though, I think some team is going to decide to roll the dice on Hamilton this offseason. I think he'll be looking for a seven year deal, and some team will end up giving him five years and a vesting option for a sixth at north of $20 million per year.

And I don't think there's much chance that team will be Texas.