April 11--Angels owner Arte Moreno said Friday he might try to enforce contractual language he says protects the team from a substance-abuse relapse by outfielder Josh Hamilton.
The owner also would not say that Hamilton would play another game for the Angels.
"I will not say that," Moreno said.
An arbitrator ruled last week that Hamilton, who reported the relapse, had not violated baseball's drug policy and thus could not be suspended. Angels President John Carpino said it "defies logic" that Hamilton, who was suspended from baseball from 2004-06 after battles with drugs and alcohol, would not have violated his treatment program.
Moreno said he has not spoken to Hamilton since the outfielder reported his relapse to the league. Hamilton met with league officials in New York on Feb. 25.
Moreno said he was "disappointed" in Hamilton.
"More than anything, we look at accountability," Moreno said. "With all of our players and all of our employees, we look for accountability.
"We understand he's had troubles and he's still having troubles. But the reality is, there is accountability when you make an agreement."
Hamilton, 33, the American League most valuable player in 2010, signed a five-year, $125-million contract with the Angels after the 2012 season. In his first two years in Anaheim, each marred by injury, he hit .255 with 31 home runs.
At the news conference to announce the Hamilton signing, Moreno said the Angels had not inserted additional language to protect the team against a relapse. However, on Friday, Moreno said the team indeed had included such language and had it approved by Hamilton, the league and the players' union.
"We have a contract with Hamilton and that contract has specific language, that he signed and that was approved, that said he could not drink or use drugs," Moreno said.
Any contract language that supersedes baseball's collectively bargained drug policy generally is not allowed. The players' union released a statement to that effect It was regarding Moreno's remarks.
"The MLBPA emphatically denies Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno's assertions from earlier today that the Angels had requested and received the approval of the Union to insert language into Josh Hamilton's contract that would supersede the provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement and/or the Basic Agreement. To the contrary, the collectively bargained provisions of the JDA and the Basic Agreement supersede all other player contract provisions and explicitly prevent Clubs from exactly the type of action Mr. Moreno alluded to in his press comments today."
Moreno said he is exploring whether to enforce that language.
"There is the possibility of pursuing it," he said.
The Angels owe Hamilton $83 million through 2017. Moreno dismissed the chorus of national critics who attributed the team's disappointment in last week's arbitration ruling as frustration over the team's apparent inability to void at least part of the contract, which would result in millions of dollars in savings.
"It was not about money," Moreno said. "Nothing about money."
Hamilton is rehabilitating an injured shoulder in Houston, according to the Angels. He is not expected to be ready to play until at least May.
UPDATE
7:55 p.m.: This report has been updated with a statement from the Major League Baseball Players Union. It was originally published at 6:22 p.m.
