Five stats to know on Josh Hamilton’s return to the Texas Rangers:
1. The Rangers are in need of outfield help. Their outfielders entered Monday hitting .182 with a .271 slugging percentage and 12 extra-base hits. Each of those ranked in the bottom 3 in the major leagues. The outfield then combined to go 1-for-11 in a loss to the Mariners.
2. Hamilton is the highest-paid outfielder in the majors this season. He’s scheduled to receive $23 million, $1.4 million more than Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth.
3. Hamilton averaged 28 home runs per season with a .912 OPS in his first stint with the Rangers (spanning 2008 to 2012). He averaged 16 home runs and a .741 OPS in his two seasons with the Angels, his strikeout percentage jumping from 20 percent (with the Rangers) to 26 percent.
Hamilton is in decline. His 3.0 Wins Above Replacement in two seasons with the Angels is less than his WAR in his final season with the Rangers (3.9).
4. Hamilton did enjoy hitting in Globe Life Park (against Rangers pitching) in his two seasons with the Angels. He posted a .339/.400/.516 slashline there in 70 plate appearances.
5. The Rangers are now 7-12 this season and might be in a troubled spot regardless of when Hamilton returns.
From 2012 to 2014, 17 teams started 7-12 or worse through their first 19 games. Eight won fewer than 70 games.
And only two of those teams — the 2012 Los Angeles Angels and 2014 Seattle Mariners — finished with winning records. Neither made the postseason.
