Sep 25, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton (32) bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark. Oakland won 3-2. . Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

As of Thursday afternoon, the Josh Hamilton isn’t really ever going to be a Phillie rumors were finally put to rest.  He is now, and will for the next five years, be a Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim (say that five times fast).

There is nothing to really be upset about here, for anyone. We know that five years is longer than pretty much every other team was willing to give Hamilton and his off the field issues.  And for $125 million, the risk was just too great.

But the reality is that someone was going to go to five years and that the Phillies would never have a shot.

The other reality is that Jon Daniels of the Rangers is somehow offended that he didn’t get a chance to counter offer.  Sometimes these folks that run MLB teams come across pretty naive   Did he really think that if Hamilton was blown away, he was going to come back to the Rangers, or just take the money and run? Hamilton did exactly what we would expect him to do.

Jon Daniels says #Rangers did not get call to match Angels’ offer. Daniels is not pleased with how negotiations ended.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) December 13, 2012

Now the Phillies have one less option.  Do they sign Nick Swisher and give up a draft pick, or sign Cody Ross?  Does a trade for Alfonso Soriano suddenly look more appealing at $10 million?

The other intriguing portion of this Hamilton to the Angels deal is the potential availability of Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo.  Power hitting corner outfielder?  If he doesn’t cost the whole farm system, Mark Trumbo could be a pretty attractive option.

With only a few possibilities left, RAJ now has to make a move, or be left with the less-than-ideal in-house options.  Your move, Ruben.

Justin Klugh

*douche chill* Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Ethan’s going to get to that Josh Hamilton mess in just a second, but throughout all of this, I have been yelling in my head a question:  WHY NO NICK SWISHER?  Don’t get me wrong, three, even two years ago, when my meds were far, far less effective, I would have hurled a cat in a mailbox if Swisher joined this team.

The cocky attitude, the “sports radio” voice, the constant smiling, the beating of us in the 2009 World Series.  None of it appealed to me.

But when you look at the real, hard numbers, that indicate the skill level of baseball being played, Swisher is an amicable option.  I mean he’s a total douche, and he K’s a bunch, but there’s some power coming from the right places.  Fortunately some people who aren’t insane today are asking the same question.

Meanwhile, check out this list of hard-asses the Phillies should pursue to fill a rotation spot, according to Matt Gelb!

…Joe Saunders, Chris Young, Carl Pavano, Derek Lowe, John Lannan, Jair Jurrjens, Kevin Millwood, and Chien-Ming Wang.

–Matt Gelb

Woooooooooooooooooo doggy

Ethan Seidel

By now you have all read about the preposterous rumor that has the Phillies sending Dominic Brown to the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano. Remember when the Phillies were in on Soriano 5 years ago when he became a free agent? And remember when he was a bust and cost the Cubs tens of millions in sunk costs?

Apparently none of that history is important to RAJ. Not that I think Brown is going to be a superstar, but this deal defies all logic. If you don’t believe me, read what Bill Baer has to say.

Would you give Josh Hamilton $80 mil for 3 years? That’s what the Phillies are reportedly offering for Hamilton’s services. 94WIP broke the news, but that’s not what’s important. Phillies fans, pay attention closely:  Josh Hamilton is not coming to Philadelphia.

I repeat, Josh Hamilton is not coming to Philadelphia.

Texas has too much to lose now if they can’t bring Hamilton back, after missing out on every big name available thus far.

IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

Ben Bernstein

Pretty funny article about Michael Young. Not everyone is too excited about the 36-year-old.  The trade really wasn’t that bad, but this interpretation of Ruben’s opinion of Young is great.

Get excited, boys and girls–2013 will be interesting.

Stephen Frey

It’s just nice to see then together again. Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

We can all agree that if Ruben Amaro, Jr. stops after the additions of Ben Revere and Michael Young (and subtraction of Vance Worley) the 2013 Phillies will once again be a flawed team. They are still in great need of a corner outfielder with power, a veteran relief pitcher, and a back of the rotation starter. However, our friend Todd Zolecki at MLB.com played everyone’s favorite game: Name That Line-up (with the roster as currently constituted).

The problem with Zolecki’s line-up is that it probably matches Uncle Charlie’s. He leaves Rollins in the lead off spot, puts Young second, platoons Dom Brown, Ruf, Nix, and Mayberry in the corners, and hits Revere 8th.

I would much rather use Revere at the top of the line-up and move Michael Young behind Howard as Manuel’s resident “professional hitter”. Until another legitimate cleanup hitter arrives, I believe the Utley-Howard 3-4 combination is still the best possible middle of the order.

Regardless, this may be an exercise in futility until game 26 when Chooch comes back and Ruben finds another outfielder.

John Stolnis

Hey, remember that time Jim Thome signed with the Phillies back in 2003 and they were still playing in the bowels of Veterans Stadium and no other free agent wanted to come here? That was cool. And remember that time when the Phillies brought him back to play one last season in Philadelphia to be a left-handed bench player/back-up first baseman even though his back was too messed up to actually play any first base? Right, that was last season. Hey remember that time the Phillies brought him back a third time to do, um, something? It hasn’t happened yet, but it might.

#Phillies quickly running out of CF options.— Steve Berthiaume (@BertDbacks) December 3, 2012

Phillies now in more of a bind finding a center fielder. Bourn still out there but they really haven’t liked the price— DKnobler (@DKnobler) December 3, 2012

Where the dominoes fall: With Pagan agreeing to terms with the Giants, the CF market shrinks by one for the Phillies.— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 3, 2012

The unbridled joy is almost palpable with every character of every tweet.

Free agents seem to be avoiding the Phils like Russian traffic jams lately (check today’s news for that reference… what, it’s going to kill you to look at nbcnews.com for a few minutes?). And the rest of the world could not be happier about it.

Still, Ruben Amaro continues on, undaunted, a soldier, trudging ahead. He’s not giving up, not with a war chest at his disposal and enough grit, moxie and, dare I say it, testicular fortitude, to make some things happen.

One of those “things” that Amaro could “make happen” is a play for free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton. In an interview on Daily News Live Monday night, Amaro was first asked about missing out on Angel Pagan and B.J. Upton, seemingly the team’s first choices in free agency.

“We didn’t really have a Plan A,” he said. “We had like 10 Plan Bs because, to be frank with you, I just didn’t think that the marketplace was all that strong in the beginning. There was not a comparable to (last year’s quick signing Jonathan) Papelbon out there. There really wasn’t. There were some good players out there, and there still are some good players out there, but I don’t know there’s a difference-maker. Maybe one.”

Yo, Ruben said wha??? Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Hmm… one difference-maker, huh? Who could that be, I wonder? Perhaps one Mr. Josh Hamilton?

“Come on,” he said, almost blushing with embarrassment. “Next question.”

Hamilton was also in Nashville, TN today, and Amaro was asked if the Phils had met with him directly.

“No, but even if I did I wouldn’t tell you,” he said, the smuggery dripping from his glasses. But what about his agent?

“No, but even if I did I wouldn’t tell you,” Amaro said.

Friends, there is one thing we all must remember when dealing with Ruben Amaro Jr. and his pursuit of potential players.

RUBEN LIES.

The Phillies claimed up and down they weren’t getting Hunter Pence. And they lied in the weeds, waiting to pounce on Cliff Lee.

He is sneaky, and oily, which makes him the perfect Winter Meetings GM.

Notice the non-denial denials. The subtle word drops. You can bet with Angel Pagan and B.J. Upton off the board, the Phillies are seriously considering adding the slugging left-hander.

Would they meet Hamilton’s asking price? Chances are, no team is going to give him a six or seven-year deal. But what about something in the neighborhood of five years and $125 million? Certainly, it’s possible Amaro might be willing to make that kind of an offer to Hamilton.

Everyone knows the demons that come with Josh, and a 5/125 deal could absolutely blow up in their faces. But the potential upside is also tremendous. The Phillies may be in a position where, if they’re going to sign a free agent center fielder, they may have to overpay. If that’s the case, would it be better for the Phils to overpay for Michael Bourn, Shane Victorino or Josh Hamilton?

Amaro’s coy game with the media on Monday night seems to be just that. For all his pseudo-denials, it seems clear Ruben is at least keeping the door wide open for a possible run at Josh Hamilton.

Rumor is the Rangers are working hard to keep him, and numerous other teams, including the Yankees and Red Sox, are said to be in the mix as well.

If the Phillies are going to sign him, Josh Hamilton will not come cheaply.

Yet, somehow it just seems like the perfect Amaro move.

A five-year deal for Josh Hamilton is coming in 3… 2… 1…