Manfred: Nothing 'inappropriate' about how Angels handled Hamilton's relapse

Commissioner Rob Manfred did his best Wednesday to dispel concern over a possible fractured union between the Los Angeles Angels and outfielder Josh Hamilton.

The Angels took issue with an arbitrator's decision last week to not punish Hamilton for his substance-abuse relapse, calling the ruling "disappointing" and questioning whether he's stable enough to return to the field once he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

Manfred, who also disagreed with the decision through a statement released by the league, said he's optimistic Hamilton and the Angels will move on from the matter.

"I'm sure that the club and the player will find a way to work together going forward," Manfred told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. "I don't think it's as serious a problem as a go-forward basis as it might appear to some."

Manfred also dismissed allegations that the Angels violated the drug agreement by leaking news of Hamilton's reported relapse.

"I have no reason to believe that the Angels did anything inappropriate," he said.

Hamilton, who's under contract for $23 million this season and owed an additional $60 million through 2017, isn't expected to return from his shoulder injury until late May at the earliest.