Former Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton has joined the Chicago White Sox on a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp, according to multiple reports Tuesday. He is in uniform for Tuesday's Spring Training game.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona said last week that the Indians would try to trade Hamilton. They released him over the weekend.
"We just felt, out of respect to Billy, because of being the veteran he is and being the really good veteran that he is, we didn't think it was right to ask him to get on a bus and back up guys if we knew he wasn't gonna be on the team," Francona said during a Zoom call. "He was a pro's pro. He's such a good kid and we'll certainly attempt to help him land somewhere. That's why we did it this quickly."
Hamilton agreed last month to a minor-league deal with Cleveland.
The New York Mets designated Hamilton for assignment last September, and he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. He had three hits in 10 at-bats with the Cubs, and stole three bases in four attempts, before becoming a free agent in October.
Hamilton was traded in August of last year from the San Francisco Giants to the Mets for right-handed pitcher Jordan Humphreys. Hamilton did not appear in a regular-season game for the Giants after signing a minor-league deal with the team earlier in the year.
The 2009 second-round pick of the Reds played for the team from 2013 to 2018, and has never played against Cincinnati. The Reds granted him free agency in Nov. 2018.
Hamilton hit .211 with an OPS of .544 in 305 plate appearances for the Kansas City Royals in 2019 and had 18 stolen bases in 23 attempts. The Atlanta Braves selected him off of waivers after the Royals designated him for assignment in August. He hit .268 in 48 plate appearances with four stolen bases in five attempts for the Braves.
Hamilton wowed fans in 2019 by scoring from second base on a sacrifice fly to deep center field in the Royals' loss to the Mariners.
Hamilton said in 2019 that he has no hard feelings toward the Reds and still supports his former teammates.
Hamilton, who hit .245 with 277 stolen bases in 690 games over six seasons for the Reds, thanked the organization and fans in Dec. 2018.
Hamilton is a five-time Gold Glove finalist, but he has lost each time. He finished second to the Mets' Jacob deGrom in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014.
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