CINCINNATI, Jan. 13 (UPI) — Stolen base maven Billy Hamilton didn’t have to rob from the Cincinnati Reds Friday when he avoided arbitration with a one-year contract.
The outfielder will cash in for $2.625 million this season, according to Jon Heyman. Hamilton, 26, has stolen at least 56 bases in each of his last three seasons. The Reds’ leadoff man hit a career high .260 last season.
In November, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Reds were “open to offers” for Hamilton. He also reported that the Texas Rangers were among the teams looking at the centerfielder.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the Reds would “have to be really, really motivated by an offer” to part with Hamilton. Hamilton missed a large portion of the second half due to a strained left oblique. He is arbitration eligible again through 2019, until hitting free agency in 2020.
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