Hamilton discusses future with Jimmy Kimmel
Josh Hamilton becomes a free agent at the end of the season and there are no guarantees that he returns to the Texas Rangers. A 30-40 home run hitter capable of producing 100-plus runs batted in each year will certainly command interest from some of the usual big spenders in Major League Baseball. Along with the Rangers, Hamilton could see offers from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and many others. Hamilton was asked about his future plans on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night. Before giving an opinion, Hamilton turned the question around and asked Kimmel where he would like the 31-year-old slugger to play. "I would like you to not go to the Yankees, that's all I would like," Kimmel said, which led to cheers from the audience. "You can go anywhere you want. I think it would be nice if you stayed in Texas, if that works out." Kimmel then made his sales pitch. "I'm a Mets fan, so I would like you to go to the Mets," Kimmel said. "That would be nice. Would you do that for me? Would you commit to the Mets right now, potentially costing you 30 or 40 million dollars with this decision?" Hamilton recalled he and his Rangers teammates sliding on the tarp during a rain delay at New York's Shea Stadium in 2008. "I was the leader of that," Hamilton said. "And they cheered us. It was phenomenal." Kimmel finished the interview by announcing Hamilton as "The newest New York Met." Hamilton bowed.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota