Mr. Enigma (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} aneternalenigma) wrote in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} atlanta_braves,@ 2008-12-01 17:48:00 |
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Hampton signs with Houston
FOX 26 Sports in Houston is reporting that the Astros have signed Mike Hampton to a 1-year, $2 million contract with incentives. The deal is pending a physical.
The Braves had expressed interest in bringing Hampton back only if their other pitching desires were not met. The Cardinals were also interested.
The 36-year-old lefty is 141-105 in his career in 14 major league seasons with the Mariners, Astros, Mets, Rockies, and Braves. However, he has only made 25 starts since the beginning of the 2005 season due to a smorgas board of injuries.
Hampton returns to the team he pitched for from 1994-1999, with his best season coming in '99, going 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 34 starts. He was the runner-up in that year's NL Cy Young voting, losing by only 24 votes the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson (17-9, 2.48 ERA in 35 starts). The Astros traded Hampton to the Mets after the season.
Cashing in on his success, he signed a much-criticized 8-year, $121 million contract with the Rockies. Up until the Giants signed Barry Zito to a 7-year, $126 million deal after the 2006 season, Hampton had the richest pitching contract in history. After two poor seasons while calling Coors Field home, he was traded to the Marlins in the offseason, who immediately swung him to the Braves. Hampton saw his career recovered in Atlanta until injuries began to plague him in 2005.
He only made 12 starts in 2005, missed the entire 2006 & 2007 seasons, and missed the first 4 months of the 2008 season with various injuries, including having Tommy John surgery and another serious elbow surgery a year later. Once he finally returned on July 26, he increased his value by proving durable enough to make 13 consecutive starts and also effective after struggling in his first few starts.
Since Hampton was an unclassified free agent, the Astros will not have to surrender a draft pick to the Braves for signing Hampton.
FOX 26 Sports in Houston is reporting that the Astros have signed Mike Hampton to a 1-year, $2 million contract with incentives. The deal is pending a physical.
The Braves had expressed interest in bringing Hampton back only if their other pitching desires were not met. The Cardinals were also interested.
The 36-year-old lefty is 141-105 in his career in 14 major league seasons with the Mariners, Astros, Mets, Rockies, and Braves. However, he has only made 25 starts since the beginning of the 2005 season due to a smorgas board of injuries.
Hampton returns to the team he pitched for from 1994-1999, with his best season coming in '99, going 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 34 starts. He was the runner-up in that year's NL Cy Young voting, losing by only 24 votes the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson (17-9, 2.48 ERA in 35 starts). The Astros traded Hampton to the Mets after the season.
Cashing in on his success, he signed a much-criticized 8-year, $121 million contract with the Rockies. Up until the Giants signed Barry Zito to a 7-year, $126 million deal after the 2006 season, Hampton had the richest pitching contract in history. After two poor seasons while calling Coors Field home, he was traded to the Marlins in the offseason, who immediately swung him to the Braves. Hampton saw his career recovered in Atlanta until injuries began to plague him in 2005.
He only made 12 starts in 2005, missed the entire 2006 & 2007 seasons, and missed the first 4 months of the 2008 season with various injuries, including having Tommy John surgery and another serious elbow surgery a year later. Once he finally returned on July 26, he increased his value by proving durable enough to make 13 consecutive starts and also effective after struggling in his first few starts.
Since Hampton was an unclassified free agent, the Astros will not have to surrender a draft pick to the Braves for signing Hampton.
