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Why Hampton ditched Braves for Astros

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Now that he's finally healthy, pitcher Mike Hampton is bolting the Braves. The veteran free agent agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with Houston, taking less money than the Braves offered in order to be closer to his children in Arizona, according to two people familiar with the situation. Hampton, 36, went 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 starts for the Braves this season, after missing nearly three years recovering from two elbow surgeries and other injuries. He finally got healthy last summer and posted a 3.72 ERA with eight quality starts in his last nine games. The pitching-thin Braves hoped to re-sign him to an incentive-laden one-year contract. Instead, Hampton opted for a slightly lesser deal with Houston that includes an opportunity to make about $2 million in additional incentives based on staying healthy and making starts, according to the two people familiar with the situation. He is going through a divorce and wanted to be closer to his children in Arizona.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Mike Hampton, Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Mike Hampton, Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
December 2, 2008  07:48 AM ET

I guess Houston really needs some left-handed depth on their DL....

December 2, 2008  08:37 AM ET

He decided stealing money from the Braves wasn't exciting anymore after so many years that he's going to switch things up?

December 2, 2008  08:41 AM ET

"Now that he's finally healthy"---yeah, I'll believe that when I see it.

December 2, 2008  08:42 AM ET

Even at $2 mil, it will be a waste of money...wonder who Mclane will blame for this fiasco???

December 2, 2008  09:01 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

I guess Houston really needs some left-handed depth on their DL....

Excellent work........

December 2, 2008  09:31 AM ET

**** Mike Hampton. You are a no class, no heart , P O S bum. I hope you get a start in ATL this year. I will be the guy drinking beer, wearing blue , chopping my heart away, and heckling the ever living crap out of you. Well, that is if your are not on the DL by then. You know sore shoulder, sore elbow, torn elbow, hamstring (3 times) , sore butt, and my personal favorite sore peck. Hampton you are garbage.

December 2, 2008  09:32 AM ET

Yawn?

December 2, 2008  09:45 AM ET

Ha Ha. Jealous Braves fans. He only makes that 2 mil if he makes an allotted number of starts and innings. Low risk, high reward my friends. Man oh man you better hope you get Peavy. Your starting pitching staff is about as thin as half an Olsen twin.

December 2, 2008  09:55 AM ET

I'm ambivalent about this.... I'm a little annoyed that he took money from the Braves and then bolted when the Braves might get some value out of him.... however, I look forward to laughing instead of wincing when Hampton walks off the mound with a pinched nerve in his dick.....

December 2, 2008  09:56 AM ET

I guess Houston has better schools than Atlanta....
This guy is one of the biggest Jack-Offs in baseball, right up there with Clemens.

December 2, 2008  10:05 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

I guess Houston has better schools than Atlanta....This guy is one of the biggest Jack-Offs in baseball, right up there with Clemens.

Disagree.... Hampton was an athletic hard nosed guy.... who happened to have a body made of glass..... still his non performance on his huge contract opens the guy up to both barrels.... I think it finally got to the point, however, where he just panicked everytime he felt a little twinge somewhere..... the sprained tyt was a classic....

December 2, 2008  10:38 AM ET

Considering the Braves organization and fans showed this guy infinite patience, I personally find this a classless move and a slap in the face. We'll be okay though. A gnat will probably graze the funny bone on his pitching arm somewhere around his third start and he will be out until 2011. Better that he's not in Atlanta when it happens this time.

December 2, 2008  10:45 AM ET

hampton should pull an Ankiel and become a full time hitter. he can hit for power and he probably wouldn't get hurt as much.

December 2, 2008  10:45 AM ET

Maybe the school system is better in Houston lol.

December 2, 2008  11:07 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

**** Mike Hampton. You are a no class, no heart , P O S bum. I hope you get a start in ATL this year. I will be the guy drinking beer, wearing blue , chopping my heart away, and heckling the ever living crap out of you.

How do you really feel?

December 2, 2008  11:09 AM ET

Somehow I believe Carl Pavano has a poster of Mike Hampton hanging in his room.

December 2, 2008  11:15 AM ET

Hampton was useless as a Brave. I would rather suffer through a whole year of Jo Jo Reyes than listen Hampton whimper about a sprained pec. There was also that incident where he hurt himself playing home run derby during batting practice. What a waste of a left-handed pitcher! Houston...you have Atlanta's problem now!

December 2, 2008  11:16 AM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Hampton was useless as a Brave. I would rather suffer through a whole year of Jo Jo Reyes than listen Hampton whimper about a sprained pec. There was also that incident where he hurt himself playing home run derby during batting practice. What a waste of a left-handed pitcher! Houston...you have Atlanta's problem now!

I'll see your sprained pec and raise you a Pavano bruised buttocks. Your move.

December 2, 2008  11:20 AM ET

Mike Hampton is STILL alive? HUHHHHHHHgh

 
December 2, 2008  11:38 AM ET
QUOTE(#19):

Mike Hampton is STILL alive? HUHHHHHHHgh

yes he is and the Rockies are still paying him!

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