Josh Hamilton has $89 million remaining on his contract.(Photo: Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports)
There are certain times in life when you think you win, but the reality is that you really lose.
Los Angeles Angels troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton lost Friday.
Big time.
Oh, Hamilton won his appeal when an independent arbitrator ruled in his favor, delighting him and his agent, along with the Major League Players Association who successfully fought for his rights.
He cannot be suspended by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who certainly planned severe disciplinary measures for Hamilton apparently running afoul of his treatment program.
The ruling permits Hamilton to rejoin the Angels as soon as he's healthy, and perhaps most important, prevents Major League Baseball from taking a single penny of the remaining $90 million the Angels owe him.
Now, without a suspension, Major League Baseball can't require Hamilton to undergo drug or alcohol treatment while away from baseball.
Hamilton is a free man.
He can return to the Angels as if nothing ever happened.
He will have his locker back, his uniform hanging, and return to the baseball field once he recovers from February shoulder surgery.
He beat the system, maybe not on a technicality, but on a decision by an independent arbitrator who ruled that Hamilton never committed an infraction.
It was Hamilton, after all, who turned himself into Major League Baseball in February; CBS Sports and the New York Daily News reported Hamilton's relapse included cocaine use. This is a man who was suspended from baseball in 2004-2006 while with the Tampa Bay Rays, failing six drug tests. Twice, in 2009 and 2012, he had alcohol-related incidents with the Texas Rangers.
Yet, none of that mattered, the arbitrator ruled.
Hamilton didn't violate a darn thing, it was ruled, enabling him to return to the Angels as if nothing ever happened.
Not that they're welcoming him back with open arms.
"It defies logic," Angels president John Carpino told reporters Friday, "that Josh's reported behavior is not a violation of his drug program."
He'll now return with a bigger target on his back than ever. He'll be taunted by the fans, scorned by Major League Baseball, and, yes, even resented by his own employers.
A terse statement released by the club said plenty about how they'll feel paying Hamilton all of his $23 million this season.
"The Angels have serious concerns about Josh's conduct, health and behavior,'' Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said, "and we are disappointed that he has broken an important commitment which he made to himself, his family, his teammates and our fans. We are going to do everything possible to assure he receives proper help for himself and for the well-being of his family."
Yes, that means the Angels want him to get help. They want him in a treatment center. They want him to get his life in order.
It remains to be seen if they ever want to see him back on a baseball field.
Roy Silver, the man who helped mentor Hamilton and bring him back to baseball in 2006, told USA TODAY Sports that he was happy for Hamilton that he won the case.
It's now up to Hamilton whether it's actually good for his well-being, with Silver telling USA TODAY Sports in February that it would be better if he retired.
"He needs to get his life back in order,'' Silver said after it was revealed that Hamilton met with MLB officials in New York after suffering a relapse. "Even three years ago, I told Josh that you might want to consider retirement.
"It seems like he's struggling with things. When you've been given three, four and five chances, and it's still not working, it's best to say, "This is it.'
"His life isn't over, but his baseball career should be.''
Well, the arbitrator made sure Friday that Hamilton's career isn't over. He assured that he won't lose a dime. The decision all but guarantees that Hamilton will be back.
And we don't doubt that the Angels want to help Hamilton; we also don't doubt they'd prefer he go away.
They committed a colossal blunder giving him that five-year, $125 million contract, and now are stuck with him. He's become their version of A-Rod - only with a serious illness lurking in the background, rather than a series of self-inflicted blunders.
Hamilton has missed 84 games with injuries the first two seasons, and has just been a shadow of himself, hitting 31 homers with 123 RBI, and heavily booed during his hitless playoff performance last October.
When he returns, so will the pressure, the expectations and the burden - writ even larger.
"If he's still dealing with all of these mental and emotional challenges,'' Silver says, "it's not going to work.''
"He has never handled expectations well.''
Manfred and MLB argued that Hamilton violated the joint drug program, and were planning to suspend him, hoping he would get some help. Now, they are they powerless.
"The Office of the Commissioner disagrees with the decision,'' MLB said in a statement, "and will seek to address deficiencies in the manner in which drugs of abuse are addressed under the Program in the collective bargaining process."
The trouble is that the current CBA doesn't' expire until December 2016. This won't help Hamilton now.
Now, he's only a p**n in a power game between MLB and the union. There was one lawyer and one medical representative appointed by management and the players association. The lawyer and medical representative from MLB argued that he violated the drug policy, needs to be suspended, and get help. The lawyer and medical rep from the union argued that he did not violate the program.
The only thing they can agree on is that Hamilton's rights were violated when news of his relapse became public, violating the confidentiality provision of the joint drug agreement.
In the aftermath of the arbitrator's ruling, hopefully the two sides can agree that Hamilton has an illness. He needs treatment. Go ahead, let Hamilton take his money. But tell him to stay away from the game. Maybe, even take the rest of the year off.
The Angels don't need Hamilton.
The game of baseball certainly doesn't need Hamilton.
Hamilton's wife, Katie, and their four young daughters - Julia, Sierra, Michaela and Stella - that's who needs Hamilton.
And Hamilton needs help.
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale
GALLERY: HAMILTON THROUGH THE YEARS
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