Free-Agent Outfielder Josh Hamilton agreed to a five-year $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels Thursday.
Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed Hamilton had agreed to a contract with the Angels.
According to the Associated Press, two sources familiar with the talks disclosed the amount and length of the contract, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not yet finalized.
After the deal is sealed, Hamilton will become the second-highest paid baseball player in MLB, matching Ryan Howard's salary with Philadelphia. The New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez, who is the youngest player to hit 500 home runs, is the highest paid, currently earning around $27.5 million a year on average.
Hamilton's agent, Michael Moye informed Daniels about the deal. The Rangers could not get an opportunity to match the offer, although it is believed they wanted to retain the superstar.
"I never expected that he was going to tell us to the dollar what they had, and a chance to offer it. Our full expectation, the phone call was going to be before he signed, and certainly not after," the Associated Press quoted Daniels as saying. "Everybody's got to make their own calls."
Hamilton was MVP and AL Batting Champion in 2012. He has an outstanding batting average of .304 with 161 home runs through 2012.
"He's a tremendous talent and I think that they've shown they're going to be in on a lot of the best players out there," Daniels added. "No sugarcoating it, we wanted the player back. And he signed with the Angels. They're better."
Hamilton started his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, but spent the best time of his illustrious career so far with the Texas Rangers (2008-2012). His four All-Star appearances during this period is proof of how well he has played for the Rangers.
"Josh has done a lot for the organization, the organization has done a lot for Josh, a lot of things that aren't public and things of that nature," Daniels said. "I'm a little disappointed how it was handled, but he had a decision to make and he made it."
Hamilton spent four years with the Rangers and the team management was not aware that their star player was in talks with a rival franchise, although he did not hide his intentions to be part of another team.
"Josh had indicated recently ... told us that he felt it might be time to move on, but that we were still talking," Daniels continued. "We had additional conversations this week that I thought had moved it along in a positive direction, but apparently not."
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