Texas Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton said Friday he had a relapse that started with "three or four" drinks at a Dallas-area bar this week, apologizing for a "weak moment" and insisting he will try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Hamilton, 30, said his actions "are mine that hurt a lot of people very close to me."
Hamilton was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. The former No. 1 draft pick missed the 2004 and 2005 seasons, but he has become one of the best players in baseball on a team that has won the past two American League pennants. He was the AL MVP in 2010.
But Hamilton this week had his second known alcohol-related relapse in three years. Both came in the offseason.
In January 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, Hamilton said he had been sober since Oct. 6, 2005.
Without being specific, Hamilton said his weak moment Monday night came for "personal reasons" with a family member. He said he walked to a restaurant to have dinner and ended up ordering "three or four drinks."
Hamilton said he has not taken any drugs, and had no thoughts of doing so. He said he has been tested for drugs twice this week, part of his normal routine.
Hamilton spoke for about 12 minutes without using any prepared notes or taking any questions. Though there were no tears, he struggled with his emotions at times. He closed his eyes at one point, forced a smile at another time.
After having a few drinks with dinner, Hamilton called Ian Kinsler to hang out with him.
Hamilton said Kinsler didn't know he had been drinking, and that he never had a drink in front of his teammate, even when they left before the restaurant closed and went to another place nearby for 25-30 minutes. Then Kinsler drove him back to where he was staying not far away.
Though Hamilton told Kinsler he was not going anywhere else, Hamilton said he later returned to the place they had left and had more drinks.
Arbitration
- The Tampa Bay Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration. Niemann will earn $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million.
- Right-hander Matt Garza has agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. The pitcher had asked for $12.5 million, and the Cubs offered $7.95 million.
- Pitcher Shaun Marcum and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a one-year contract worth $7,725,000. The deal was at the midpoint between the $8.7 million and $6.75 million figures filed by the sides.
Elsewhere
- First baseman Dan Johnson, whose dramatic home run on the final night of the regular season helped Tampa Bay reach last year's playoffs, has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox.
- Former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is returning to the dugout — for an exhibition. He will manage the organization's top prospects against the current major-leaguers April 3 at the home of the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett team near Atlanta.
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