MLBPA denies Josh Hamilton's contract contains an alcohol/drug clause

Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement Friday evening rejecting the idea that Los Angeles Angels owner had contractual language written into Josh Hamilton's contract that would protect the team from a substance-abuse relapse
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"The MLBPA emphatically denies Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno's assertions from earlier today that the Angels had requested and received the approval of the Union to insert language into Josh Hamilton's contract that would supersede the provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement and/or the Basic Agreement," the statement read. "To the contrary, the collectively bargained provisions of the JDA and the Basic Agreement supersede all other player contract provisions and explicitly prevent Clubs from exactly the type of action Mr. Moreno alluded to in his press comments today."

On Friday, Angels owner Arte Moreno said he included such language in Hamilton's 5-year, $125 million contract and had it approved by Hamilton, the league and the players' union.

"We have a contract with Hamilton and that contract has specific language, that he signed and that was approved, that said he could not drink or use drugs," Moreno said.

An arbitrator ruled last week that Hamilton will not be suspended for a reported relapse he suffered while recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason.