Rangers' Banister: Hamilton doesn't need to be an MVP

Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister has no intention of pressuring Josh Hamilton to be his old self as the club vies for its second consecutive division title next season.

In fact, the skipper would prefer if Hamilton didn't try to do too much and instead focuses on being just another guy in the clubhouse.

"I don't think we're going to count on him for a full 162, but I do believe if we can get 100 plus games from Josh at a better than average level," Banister recently told KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan. "We don't need him to go be an MVP, he just needs to be one of the guys, and I think he can do that."

Hamilton, a former American League MVP, appeared in only 50 games for the Rangers last season after coming over in an April trade from the Los Angeles Angels, which came on the heels of his admission to a drug relapse during the 2014 offseason.

The trade didn't do much to improve Hamilton's production as he struggled through injuries, including two knee surgeries in September, but the former first overall pick feels like things are on the up and up with his recovery.

"I've just been fighting back and forth with it, just pushing through the rehab," Hamilton told reporters last week. "He put some cortisone in there, and I tell you what, man, to wake up this morning and put my shoe on without any pain was a wonderful thing. Everything else feels good."

The five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, who's expected to start in left field for the Rangers, hit just .253/.291/.441 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 2015.