>>Report Indicates Angels' Hamilton Had Drug, Alcohol Relapse
Former American League MVP Josh Hamilton reportedly suffered a cocaine and alcohol relapse.
The Angels outfielder met with Major League Baseball officials on Wednesday in New York for what was termed a "disciplinary issue."
On Thursday, the New York Daily News cited a source as saying Hamilton had a relapse with his previous drug problems.
Hamilton had been spending the offseason in Houston recovering from surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder. He undergoes regular drug testing as a condition of his reinstatement into baseball in 2005. The veteran was suspended for three seasons between 2003-05 for well-documented issues of substance-abuse.
The 33-year-old veteran went on to beat his addiction and become one of the game's most feared hitters over a five-year span with the Texas Rangers from 2008-12. Hamilton was named an AL All-Star in each of those seasons and captured the league's MVP award in 2010 when he batted .359 with 32 homers and 100 RBI and helped the Rangers to the World Series.
Hamilton signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels in December of 2012, but had a disappointing first season with the club and was limited to just 89 games by injuries this last year.
Hamilton admitted to having brief relapses with alcohol in both 2009 and 2012, though those incidents were not punishable under MLB's current drug policy.
>>Blue Jays Sign Former Cy-Young Winner Santana
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed pitcher Johan Santana to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Santana hasn't pitched in the majors since August 2012 as a member of the Mets. The left-hander missed all of 2013 due to a torn anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder.
His comeback attempt with the Orioles came to an end last June due to a torn Achilles tendon. He rehabbed the injury in order to showcase himself in the Venezuelan Winter League, but he was eventually shut down due to shoulder discomfort.
A two-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Santana has a career record of 139-78 with an ERA of 3.20 and 15 complete games (10 shutouts) over 360 games (284 starts) with the Twins (2000-2007) and Mets (2008-2012).
The 35-year-old native of Venezuela pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history on June 1, 2012, in an 8-0 win over St. Louis.
>>Brewers Bring Back K-Rod
The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly re-signed reliever Francisco Rodriguez.
CBSSports.com is reporting the deal is for two years with a club option for a third season.
Rodriguez, 33, appeared in 69 games last season for the Brewers and went 5-5 with a 3.04 ERA with 44 saves, earning All-Star honors for the fifth time.
For his career, the 13-year veteran is 46-41 with a 2.73 ERA and 348 saves, which is good enough for second among active players (Joe Nathan, 376).
Rodriguez re-signed with Milwaukee last February after being dealt from the Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2013 trade deadline. He first joined Milwaukee in a July 2011 trade with the New York Mets.
