Report: MLB panel 'deadlocked' on treatment for Josh Hamilton

The fate of Josh Hamilton will rest in the hands of a single arbitrator, according to Mike DiGiovanna and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

The four-person panel put together to decide whether Hamilton should enter a rehabilitation program for substance abuse following his recent admitted relapse reached a stalemate on Wednesday and remained deadlocked as of the Times' report. The original panel was reportedly made up of two attorneys and two physicians, one of each appointed by the commissioner’s office and the players’ union. It's unclear how the fifth and decisive arbitrator will be selected.

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The panel's first job was to decide whether Hamilton violated MLB’s drug policy. Based on Hamilton's admission, they reached an agreement there in short order. Once they moved on to the treatment phase, however, it became more complicated. With neither side showing a willingness to budge, a fifth arbitrator will be called in.

There are wide-ranging implications for all involved. It's important that Hamilton receives the attention he needs and is able to move forward with a healthy state of mind. But there's always a business side.

As the Times notes, if Hamilton is sent to rehab, he would receive his full salary for 30 days, and then half his salary over the next 30 days. If he's suspended and is not ordered to rehab, Hamilton would not be paid during the suspension. With Hamilton due to make $25 million in 2015, that determination could make a huge difference depending on the length of the suspension.

In the meantime, MLB is still trying to determine whether Hamilton should be charged as a first-time offender or a fourth-time offender of the league's drug policy. The latter would result in a full-season suspension. Hamilton is known to have failed no less than six drug tests as a minor leaguer with the Tampa Bay Rays. It's unclear how many of those came while Hamilton was on the Tampa Bay Rays' 40-man roster. Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com says that was the case for his first suspension in 2003, so that could prove significant.

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Once a decision is reached on treatment, we'll know which questions to ask next regarding Hamilton's future on and off the field.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813