Mike Hampton Signs with Astros

Updated (4:40 PM): The deal is reportedly for $2M (via Shysterball). Even better for the Astros.

It's time to party like it's 1999!

Apparently Hampton's feeling of loyalty/guilt toward the Braves did not last long as Hampton signed with the Astros earlier today. The 36-year old probably signed a one-year contract without options. After being injured for the entirety of the 2006 and 2007 seasons and most of 2008, Hampton wanted to sign a one-year contract to prove he could still pitch and be healthy in order to get a bigger contract next winter. Honestly, I'm not sure who would give a big contract to a then 37-year old with major injury issues, but if he pulls off a Derek Lowe-like campaign, someone will pay him some big bucks.

Regardless, Hampton pitched well down the stretch for Atlanta. He was 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA (3 of his first 4 were pretty horrible, so he was better after getting his feet under him) in 78 IP in 13 starts (6 IP/start -- pretty good). His 4.38 K/9 was pathetic, but no one expects him to strike out a lot of hitters. His BB/9 was a decent 3.23, but that looks worse with his low K rate. A lot of those is made up by being a great ground-ball pitcher (a quality needed in Houston these days) with a 2.06 GB/FB, and with his pitches mainly being a sinker, cutter, and change-up with sink, he should continue that trend. As for luck, Hampton's FIP was 4.94, so he wasn't particularly lucky (his .286 BABIP and 68% LOB% were a tad low -- but just a tad -- like a tadpole really). Overall, Hampton was a fairly solid pitcher last season when taking into account that his first four starts were terrible (maybe they were due to rust, but we can argue about that later).

The money figure is not known at this time, but I imagine it's in the $3-8M range ($5M is my guess). At that price, Hampton is a perfectly affordable, low-risk chance taken by the Astros. I have no idea if the Astros are having money issues, but if they add Ben Sheets later like Roy Oswalt wants, a rotation of Oswalt, Sheets, Rodriguez, Hampton, and Backe could end up being a pretty good rotation.