From Peter Gammons: Around the majors During the season, Astros owner Drayton McLane had indicated interest in finding a way to bring back Mike Hampton. That way might be an angle for the Astros to work a deal by sending Richard Hidalgo to Colorado. If the Astros could acquire Hampton, that would give them a veteran to go along with Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Carlos Hernandez. The Astros also have interest in Rockies center fielder Juan Pierre.
Hmm...isn't Hampton a better hitter than Hidalgo? I guess this would be ok as long as it is pretty much just those two. But I'm no expert on this stuff. I just watch the Astros.
If the Astros want Pierre as well, then I suspect a pitching prospect would have to to Colorado as well. I can't see the Rockies giving up Pierre AND Hampton for Hildago
I wouldn't mind getting those two players and giving up Hidalgo and prospects. Pierre is a good centerfielder with speed and Hampton is that veteran presence. I would do a trade like that easily.
If the Astros want Pierre as well, then I suspect a pitching prospect would have to to Colorado as well. I can't see the Rockies giving up Pierre AND Hampton for Hildago Remember, if both Hampton and Hildago continue to suck, we're the ones who have to pay the $100MM if we make this trade. The Rockies may give up Pierre to get rid of Hampton's contract. In a Hampton-for-Hidalgo deal, Colorado should be the one giving us more stuff. We're taking $100MM worth of crap of their hands, while they are taking $15MM worth of crap off of ours. Pierre is the incentive for us to take Hampton.
Who wants that 17million a year contract? The Astros can find someone much cheaper than Hampton. He is not even close to the pitcher he was in 99. I would rather try to get Millwood from Atlanta.
I wouldn't mind giving up Hidalgo and Pete Munro for Hampton and Pierre. Pierre's a legit CF and Munro's already 29 I think, so he's not really that young of a prospect. If Hampton got a change of scenery(MM Park as it may be), he could possibly resurrect his career.
i wish i hadnt heard this. and i hope its not true. but didnt bagwell allegedly have sex with hamptons wife, and thats why hampton wanted to leave? did anyone else hear that. i hate posting that, but i heard that from more than one person... if no one else heard that here, than its not true... sorry
Astrodome must have been some pitcher friendly park. I dont watch much baseball, but Lima and Hampton started sucking as soon as they left the Dome.
mike hampton led the mets to the world series after he left the dome. shea stadium isnt that big of a pitcher friendly park. hampton started sucking when he got to colorado. so did kile, so did neagle, so has everyone.
I heard the other way around... As in Hampton was messing with Bagwell's wife, which led to Bagwell divorcing Shaune Bagwell, who is damn hot, but a w#ore.
Kile sucked immediately after landing in Denver. As soon as he got out of a Rockies uni...he resurrected his career. Hampy likely will do the same. I think it's a psychological thing in Colorado. I'd be happy to give up Ward if Hidalgo isn't enough to get Hampy AND Pierre.
There's no way the Astros would take Hampton's contract, unless the Rockies were willing to pay for a big chunk of it, for the duration of the contract. Which I doubt Col would do... That being said, I would love to trade Hidalgo for Hampton. I have just about given up on Hidalgo being anything more than average OF. Because of Hampton's previous success in Houston, I am more confident in Hampton coming back to stardom than Hidalgo.
Get him!!! Drayton open up your pocket!! Hidalgo can't hit his own weight. Hampton and Pierre for Hidalgo and Redding.
Hidalgo+average prospect for Hampton and Pierre? Get Rockies to even out the salaries for a year (shouldn't be too much considering they're taking Doggy) Very nice. Pierre is the type of CF we need-fast, and can cover ground. He'd give us a lefty leadoff presence, which is nice. Move Berkman to his natural spot of left field, and use Ward or Lane in right and keep or trade the other (Merced is our 4th OF, and use Lane/Ward or resign Hunter as a 5th OF) I think Hampy could make a comeback here-how nice would it be to have a veteran lefty to add to the rotation? We have 14 mill off the books in the form of Mlicki/Reynolds That would lineup- Pierre CF Biggio 2B Berkman LF Bagwell 1B Ward or Lane RF Lugo SS (could switch spots with Biggio) Free Agent?/Blum 3B Ausmus/Zaun Catcher Bench: Merced, Vizcaino, Blum, Zaun/Ausmus, Lane/Ward Rotation (this is just how I would align it-split up the lefties): Miller-Hampton-Oswalt-Saarloos-Hernandez Bullpen: Wagner, Dotel, Borbon, Redding, Stone, Munro, Puffer/Lidge (adjust as necessary)
Thanks for posting that, Puedlfor. I was about to say the same thing. Pierre only had some limited value in Colorado when he was hitting for high average and stealing bases. His hitting for average, of course, was much more likely at Coors, where the size of the park and the thinness of the air mean in practical terms that there is a lot more ground to cover. Without Coors, Pierre is the 21st century version of Eric Yelding. As for Hampton, I'm not convinced that he would pull a Darryl Kile and turn things around after leaving Colorado. His play on the road has been just as atrocious as his home play. But you never know. If there's one thing I learned from the NBA these couple years, with the Juwan Howard and Vin Baker trades, there is no contract so burdensome and untradeable that some other GM won't show up to take it off your hands.
His hitting for average, of course, was much more likely at Coors, where the size of the park and the thinness of the air mean in practical terms that there is a lot more ground to cover. He's having a sucky year thus far, but for his career, he's a .330 home / .310 away batter. It's not the ridiculous split you see from some of the other Coors Field guys. He also had equal slugging at home / road (.390), so he actually hit for more power on the road given his lower average.