Josh Hamilton Says Texas Rangers Have 'Crazy' Talent

Josh Hamilton is hyped about the Rangers' 2010 season. Most notably because he is finally feeling good.

"(I'm) healthy baby. Do I look strong?" Hamilton told the Abilene Reporter-News on Friday, when he spoke at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Victory Dinner at the Abilene Civic Center.

Hamilton said he expects Texas, which recently added slugger Vladimir Guerrero, to play meaningful games late in the season.

"We've got so much talent it's crazy," he told the Reporter-News. "The key is staying healthy. ... If we can stay healthy as a team, we've got such a great lineup from 1-to-9, and then the pitching obviously stepped up big time last year with (new co-owner) Nolan Ryan coming in and (pitching coach) Mike Maddux. It was such a dramatic difference from '08 to '09, and even if we can improve just a little bit on that going into '10, it will be a great year."

Hamilton is also healthier in the wallet. He reached an agreement Tuesday on a $3.25 million contract last week. He was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .268 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs during an injury-plagued season a year ago, when he made $565,000.

Manager Ron Washington is moving Hamilton to leftfield to make room for Julio Borbon in center and Nelson Cruz in right. Hamilton will be the backup centerfielder for now: "He's still a quality center fielder," Washington said. "We don't feel that's a weakness."

Hamilton hadn't heard the news. "I think they moved me to left - they haven't really told me," he told the Reporter-News. "We read it on the Internet. But I'm going to be somewhere in the outfield this year."