Friend of Josh Hamilton says slugger should retire

Bob Nightengale | USA TODAY Sports

Roy Silver, one of Josh Hamilton's closest friends and a mentor in his struggles with addiction, says the best thing for the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is to retire from baseball.

Silver last spoke with Hamilton around Christmas and feared something was amiss. Since then, based on conversations with mutual acquaintances, he'd feared Hamilton had suffered a relapse.

Hamilton met Wednesday with Major League Baseball officials regarding a disciiplinary matter. MLB has declined comment on specifics of the meeting, but CBS Sports and the New York Daily News reported he suffered a relapse involving cocaine and alcohol.

If that's the case, Silver says Hamilton should step away from the game.

"Absolutely, absolutely,'' Silver told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview. "He needs to get his life back in order. 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.''

Silver was instrumental in piecing Hamilton's career - and life - back together after Hamilton missed the 2002-2006 seasons while recovering from addiction. Hamilton, the top overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays system, accepted a part-time job at Silver's baseball academy - mowing grass, pulling weeds, even cleaning toilets - in exchange for use of the facility.

"I'm not shocked or surprised,'' Silver says. "People don't understand that this hasn't been easy for him, I knew something was not right for the last couple of months. The fact that he's turning himself in is a sign that he got tired of the same old spin cycle. He's trying to get well.

"He needs to get down and dirty with himself.''

Silver's most recent concerns go back as far as last summer, when the Angels played the Rays in Tampa.

He said Hamilton - who this year is entering the third year of a five-year, $125 million contract - complained about his struggles with motivation.

"He talked about that he was having trouble getting up for games.'' Silver said. "I don't know whether it was a self-realization or depression. He has to find a way to get yourself up, or you have to man up. He has a job to do. And I'm not big into stealing people's money."

Hamilton, who turns 34 in May, is due $25.4 million this season and $32.4 million in both 2016 and 2017.

Yet, Silver says, walking away from $90.2 million would be the medicine to get his life in order.

"Baseball has never driven Josh,'' says Silver. "People don't understand that. He just loves to hit. And he loves to dive.

"And after winning the MVP and going to two World Series, his body won't let him dive anymore, and he's struggling to hit. If he's still dealing with all of these mental and emotional challenges, it's not going to work.''

Hamilton was the 2010 AL MVP with the Texas Rangers, and hit 43 home runs in 2012, his last season in Texas.

His two seasons in Anaheim have been difficult.

He's hit just 31 homers with 123 RBI in his two seasons with the Angels, missing 84 games with injuries.

Hamilton's shoulder injury limited to just four games in September 2014, but he returned for the Angels' postseason series aganst Kansas City. It did not go well: Hamilton looked listless in a hitless performance in 13 at-bats.

"He has never handled expectations well,'' Silver says.

Hamilton, who underwent right shoulder surgery in February and was scheduled to be out at least until mid-May, has been staying at a friend's house in Houston while he underwent rehab for his shoulder. The Angels don't even have a locker for him at their spring-training complex.

Silver, who's a consultant with the Texas Rangers, says he's unsure whether Hamilton has been with his wife and four children.

"This has nothing to do with baseball,'' Silver said. "This is affecting other parts of his life. His wife and children, and other relationships.''

Silver says he last spoke with Hamilton around Christmas time, but had a sickening feeling during their lengthy conversation that something was amiss, fearing that Hamilton was struggling.

"People that are depressed are very selfish,'' said Silver, who teaches ministry, and has shared Bible study classes with Hamilton. "I'm sure there is anxiety and depression that goes with it. You forget about all of your responsibilities elsewhere.

"When you talk about Jesus, are you using Jesus as a shield, saying, "Please forgive me? Or are you using Jesus to get into your heart.''

Silver wishes he knew, but suspects he already does, and the answer is too painful.

"I just hope that he has not isolated himself,'' Silver said, "where he has nowhere to go and trust.

"This shouldn't be heartbreaking.

"He has his whole life to live.''

And it may be better without baseball.

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