Rangers re-sign Josh Hamilton to minor-league deal

The Rangers have officially re-signed outfielder Josh Hamilton to a minor-league contract, according to FanRag’s Jon Heyman. The deal includes an April 1 opt-out clause if Hamilton is not on the club’s major-league roster.

Hamilton was expected to re-sign with Texas after being medically cleared during a late December workout. Texas originally released the outfielder in late August as he was recovering from knee surgery, but planned to re-sign him this winter if he was deemed healthy.

Hamilton, who turns 36 in May, missed the entire 2016 season due to knee injuries less than a year after being re-acquired by the Rangers from the Angels in a midseason trade. Hamilton is still owed about $28.4 million in 2017, with Texas picking up $2 million and the Halos paying more than $26 million as Hamilton finishes the five-year, $125 million deal he signed with the club before the 2013 season.

If Hamilton makes the club, he will join Nomar Mazara, Carlos Gomez, Delino DeShields, Shin-soo Choo and Ryan Rua in an already-crowded outfield mix for Texas. Hamilton hit .253/.291/.441 with eight homers in 50 games for Texas in 2015.