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Josh Hamilton Relapses, Spotted in Pub with Ian Kinsler

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11:26 PM ET: Gerry Fraley is clarifying that Ian Kinsler's presence in the bar was actually an apparent attempt to persuade him to leave.

11:11 PM ET: Josh Hamilton has had an alcohol-related relapse according to Gerry Fraley of the The Dallas Morning News. Jay Gormley of CBS 11 in Dallas says his sources confirm both Hamilton and teammate Ian Kinsler were spotted at a local bar named "Sherlocks."

There's no immediate word on how this affects his status with the team.

Sources: Rangers' Josh Hamilton has relapse with alcohol at area bar - Gerry Fraley | The Dallas Morning News
This was Hamilton's second alcohol-related relapse in just over three years. In January, 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. A day after that episode, Hamilton informed his family, the Rangers and Major League Baseball of what he had done. He passed a drug test that day and later participated in a MLB-mandated counseling program.

Hamilton, the American League Most Valuable Player in 2010, can become a free agent after this season and has said he will stop negotiations on an extension when he reports to spring training.

It was not known how this incident will affect the Rangers' desire to work out a long-term extension with Hamilton.

Clearly, his health and his family are the bottom-line most important subjects here, but neither of those fall within the boundaries of this blog, which covers baseball rumors, trades, transactions...you get it. The next least offensive reaction one might have is, "holy crap, what about his extension?" And...

  • Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS - "Hamilton may be the best positional talent in baseball but the #rangers should think hard before doing long deal with him."