Astros - Signed Hampton

Houston Astros - Reportedly sign P Mike Hampton to a 1-year contract.

The Braves’ 45-year, $700 billion commitment to Hampton finally comes to an end.  Hampton’s probably worth a flier, but I’m not sure I’d want to take a look at him for $2 million, especially when my team wants to shed $20 million from the payroll and has very few places where it can do that.  If the Astros aren’t willing to pay to play, a necessity with a horrible farm system, they have to start thinking about 2011 more than 2009 and Hampton doesn’t help much there - if he turns out to be healthy and good, they won’t have the money to shell out to keep him.  With the economy likely poor for the near-term, I can’t imagine any team is going to give up valuable cost-controlled players at the deadline for a pitcher with Hampton’s injury history unless he goes nuts and has a Cliff Lee 2009.  Which he won’t.

Amusingly enough, this might be a signing that would have been good for the Braves.

ZiPS Projection - Mike Hampton
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            W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA   ERA+
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2009        2   2  10  10   50   57   28   7  18  22  5.04    85
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