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TEMPE, Ariz. – Talk to anyone wearing Rangers blue at spring training and they'll tell you the same thing about Josh Hamilton.

They'll talk about his moon shots during BP. And the easy way he covers ground in center field. They'll talk about his speed and how he's fitting nicely into the Rangers clubhouse.

Then, each and every one of them will tell you how he's blessed with every attribute a baseball player could want. Some of them will even tell you he's the most talented player they've ever seen.

All of that begs the question: Why in the world did Cincinnati trade him for a box of Cocoa Puffs?

His drug problems are well-documented, but the cynic in me figured there had to be more to it than that. Frankly, the question has been nagging me since the Rangers acquired the multitalented outfielder.

Perhaps you're one of those people who think Edinson Volquez will become a solid member of Cincinnati's rotation after going 3-11 with a 7.20 ERA in 17 career starts with the Rangers. By the way, batters hit .329 against him over three seasons with Texas.

To be fair, he was much better last season, going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts. We can debate just how good Volquez will eventually become, but there couldn't possibly be anyone walking around the Reds clubhouse calling him a stud. Or saying he can be one of baseball's best pitchers.

But you do hear plenty of folks in the Rangers' organization – players, coaches and front-office types – saying Hamilton has the ability to be one of the game's best. So I spent the bulk of Thursday trying to figure out why the Reds let him go.

Here's what my research has revealed.

The Reds actually consider themselves contenders in the National League Central, which is why they hired Dusty Baker as manager. You don't shell out the cash Baker commands for yet another last-place finish.

To compete, the Reds needed starting pitching. Getting teams to part with quality young pitchers is next to impossible these days. Usually, the best you can do is getting a team to trade a flawed pitcher with potential.

Volquez certainly fits into that category, which is why Texas was willing to deal him and why the Reds were eager to acquire him.

The Reds also felt comfortable trading Hamilton because they already have Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn in the outfield, and Baseball America considers outfielder Jay Bruce the game's No. 1 prospect. Obviously, he's going to need somewhere to play.

There were also whispers that some in the Reds clubhouse weren't enamored with some of the special treatment Hamilton receives as part of his support to ensure he doesn't have any substance abuse issues.

Finally, the Reds figured Hamilton, the first player selected in the 1999 draft, would never have more value than he did this off-season after hitting .292 with 19 home runs and 47 RBIs in just 90 games and 298 at-bats.

He missed some games with a hamstring injury, and there were legitimate concerns about whether the years of drug use would make him more susceptible to injury because of how much he had abused his 6-4, 235-pound sculpted body.

You can't really argue with any of that, but the Reds' decision to bail on him might eventually make up for general manager Jon Daniels not acquiring Josh Beckett when he had the chance.

Hamilton, batting second Thursday against the Angels, had a two-strike triple down the right-field line that drove in a run. He also singled to right on a hit-and-run, moving the runner to third.

But it was his bouncer back to the pitcher in his second at-bat that shows his mentality as a player.

With Ian Kinsler on second and none out, Hamilton slapped the first pitch back to the mound. Hamilton was easily thrown out, while failing to move Kinsler to third.

It was the epitome of a poor at-bat. The positive: Hamilton knew it and admitted it.

"I was trying to get the runner over, and he threw me a sinker," Hamilton said. "I should have let it go. They weren't going to pitch me inside in that situation, so I should have just taken that pitch and hit it to left center.

"I talked to Rudy [Jaramillo] about it, but that's what spring training is all about. It's about getting experience and making adjustments and seeing what works and what doesn't."

There are no guarantees Hamilton will be a terrific player – even for a short period – but you must admit he has a better chance of being a big-time player than Volquez.