From ESPN.com. Why not just take a flyer on the guy? He's got talent, and it's not like they're loaded in the minor leagues...oh well.


Ex-Rays prospect Hamilton picked in Rule 5 draftAssociated Press


LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Cincinnati Reds worked out a deal to obtain troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton, sending cash to the Chicago Cubs after they picked him from Tampa Bay in the first round of baseball's winter meeting draft Thursday.



Hamilton was the third overall pick in the draft, after right fielder Ryan Goleski went from Cleveland's system to the Devil Rays and right-hander Joakin Soria went from San Diego to Kansas City.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring200 ... id=2792609

And now he's tearing it up in the Spring Training.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

About the same as the Padres do for letting go of Soria.

have any of you seen this guys life story? This is a movie to be made!

You are talking about a guy spending days in crack houses at a time, a guy who can't be left alone. to be where he is now from being almost dead is amazing. His wife seems to be the savior.

The pure baseball talent was never a question, but without reading that link, it is something I think is one of the best baseball stories ever.

This is a real BOOK deal for 6 figures.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I think HBO real sports did a thing on him.

He was a clean cut kid growing up. He was a "can't miss" baseball prospect. One day he got introduced to crack and it ruined him.

tons of stories just like his don't get told - i work with a kid that was a baseball phenom in Dyer, IN and at Lake Central High and played some semi-pro with the Gary Railcats, but he can't beat the drugs and he's totally squandering his God-given ability, such a shame.