Mike Hampton

[Lindseynelson]

This guy has made millions on the DL.
I think from watching him it chews him up.
Bad things happen to good people from time to time , he seems to fit the bill

[Zito75]

His career is over... See ya, nice knowing ya...

[Mattingly]

How did this guy fall off the face of the Earth so quickly? At one moment, he was the ace of the 2000 Mets, and they'd offered him a long-term deal of between 4-6 years, which he refused. He'd claimed that he didn't want his kids growing up in NYC, which seemed pretty shady to me.

He got overpaid to pitch in Coors Stadium, stunk up the joint, got traded to the Braves, and Florida, which he'd never even played for, I understand, paid for a huge chunk of the deal.

If he ever comes back, he'd top both Carl Pavano and Ken Griffey, Jr *COMBINED*.

[SamtheBravesFan]

How did this guy fall off the face of the Earth so quickly? At one moment, he was the ace of the 2000 Mets, and they'd offered him a long-term deal of between 4-6 years, which he refused. He'd claimed that he didn't want his kids growing up in NYC, which seemed pretty shady to me.

He got overpaid to pitch in Coors Stadium, stunk up the joint, got traded to the Braves, and Florida, which he'd never even played for, I understand, paid for a huge chunk of the deal.

If he ever comes back, he'd top both Carl Pavano and Ken Griffey, Jr *COMBINED*.

I just feel sorry for him at this point. I hope that he is able to get something out of the rest of his career. If he can't, that's what happens sometimes. It's a shame.

[Old Sweater]

8 year deal for Hampton for 121mil.= 21 total wins

5 year deal for Neagle for 51mil. = 19 total wins

40 wins for 90-100mil. for the Rockies. Edit for what the Rockies actually payed.

[Mattingly]

8 year deal for Hampton for 121mil.= 21 total wins

5 year deal for Neagle for 51mil. = 23 total wins

44 wins for 172mil. for the Rockies.
Mike Hampton (http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hamptmi01.shtml) only played 2 seasons in Colorado (2001-02), then was traded to Atlanta. His contract was definitely considered untradeable. Only Jason Giambi could've been more untradeable at the time.

Denny Neagle (http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/neaglde01.shtml), following some illicit meeting in an alley with a woman, had his contract terminated for moral clauses. He only lasted 3 of those 5 years.

Despite Denny's last season being 2003, he was paid from 2001-04 by Colorado. Other than any signing bonuses or other payouts not listed, Denny was paid $32.2m over 4 years by the Rockies, while Hampton was paid $20m over 2 years by them, if you follow the bottom right of both player links attached here.

[Old Sweater]

Guess a lot of Neagles remaining salary depends on what you would call amicable. And it wasn't a alley, it was right on West Coufax, the main east and west street in Denver. I would say that Neagle got most of his 51mil. with the players union backing him. On the Hampton contract the Rockies still had to pay 30mil. for a total of 50mil. for the 23 wins.

=========================


DENVER -- Pitcher Denny Neagle reached a settlement Thursday over his grievance against the Colorado Rockies, who terminated his contract last winter after he was issued a citation for soliciting sex from a prostitute.

Terms of the settlement were not released by Major League Baseball and a staffer in the Rockies public relations office said the team was not releasing any information.

"After much discussion, [Thursday] morning we reached a very amicable settlement," Barry Meister, Neagle's agent, told the Rocky Mountain News. Meister said both sides signed confidentiality statements.

In 2000, Neagle signed a five-year, $51 million contract that called for him to be paid $10 million in 2005. The deal contained a $12.5 million team option for 2006 with a $9 million buyout.

It meant there was as much as $19 million riding on his hearing with arbitrator Shyam Das this week.

===============================

The Marlins and Braves officially announced Mike Hampton's second trade in three days on Monday. In a deal that had been rumored as soon as Florida acquired Hampton from the Rockies on Saturday, he went to Atlanta for Tim Spooneybarger and minor league righthander Ryan Baker.

The pair of transactions make sense for all three teams, as the remaining six years and $84.5 million on Hampton's contract and $19 million deferred signing bonus he's due will be spread out. Rather than being on the hook for all $103.5 million, Colorado now owes him $30 million and saved a total of $26.3 million with its deal with the Marlins. Florida will pay $38 million toward Hampton's salaries, and came out $9.2 million ahead with its two trades. The Braves hope Hampton can regain his two-time National League all-star form under the tutelage of pitching coach Leo Mazzone, and will pay him $35.5 million over six years.

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Those salaries listed in Baseball Reference I believe is what the player makes that year, not who is paying the salary.

[holyroman]

Best decision the Astros have made in the last 10 years. Ejecting Hampton after a few good years and then one great year! I think he was traded because his agent and him wanted big money after his one breakout year. What a ridiculous contract he got from Colorado. He had one good year in new york. 15-10
He should have learned from Daryl Kile who left after one great year in Houston in 1997 to go to Colorado. He left for a huge contract too. At least he landed in St. Louis and had a few more great years.
Hampton was a scrapper and I enjoyed watching him in Houston. I guess in my mind his biggest mistake was leaving new york for colorado and a paycheck.

[plask_stirlac]

I was really surprised he's needing another 6-9 months of pure downtime after another procedure... I feel sorry for him as well.

Jason Giambi wasn't untradable until mid-2004.

[Old Sweater]

Florida will pay $38 million toward Hampton's salaries, and came out $9.2 million ahead with its two trades.


Thanks in part for the Rockies picking up Charles Johnson, Preston Wilson and their salaries. Burnitz will probably be the last signings of a big name player after the Neagle and Hamton signings as long as the Monforts own the Rockies.

I know injuries can happen but Hampton has got what he signed for.


The Rockies and the Braves haven't.

[holyroman]

Thanks in part for the Rockies picking up Charles Johnson, Preston Wilson and their salaries. Kile and Burnitz will probably be the last signings of a big name player after the Neagle and Hamton signings as long as the Monforts own the Rockies.

I know injuries can happen but Hampton has got what he signed for.


The Rockies and the Braves haven't.

very well said

[KCGHOST]

Hampton is probably the worst free agent signing in history.

[Henry515]

Hampton still has ability. He was having a Cy Young year when he got injured 2 years ago. He just can't get healthy.

[Old Sweater]

Hampton still has ability. He was having a Cy Young year when he got injured 2 years ago. He just can't get healthy.


I thought he might join Darryl Kile, as a before and after all star, after a stint with the Rockies. Hampton started out something like 9 and 1 for the Rockies and made the all star team. Then the wheels came off and he struggled until traded to the Braves.

Can't find offical info, but I believe this is the 1st year, that the Rockies don't have to pick up any of Hamptons salary, since they traded him to the Marlins.

[plask_stirlac]

Hampton is probably the worst free agent signing in history.

Prospectus did some articles on that, some guys were even worse per dollar but in the end someone is paying Hampton longer for naught.

This is just Pirates w/o registering... Hampton definitely did something, just not well, some guys did jack squat.

[Lindseynelson]

Hampton has not been a good return on the investment but he has always given his all.
He is a guy I feel for because he has been frequently injured but has rehabbed hard to little avail
Unlike guys like Doc who took the dough and the blow, Hampton has been a genuine hard luck story

[Zito75]

Hampton is probably the worst free agent signing in history.

Alex Fernandez? Mo Vaughn? Darren Driefort?

[Lindseynelson]

Some yankee fans might point to Steve Kemp

[Captain Cold Nose]

Some yankee fans might point to Steve Kemp

Kemp didn't make eight figures, though. I forgot who the pitcher was, but they signed one to a ridiculous contract at the time in the 70's.