12/03/2008 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have signed starting pitcher Mike Hampton to a one-year contract, worth $2 million plus incentives.
"Mike provides an immediate upgrade to our starting rotation," said Houston general manager Ed Wade. "He averaged more than six innings a start over his last nine outings last year, and eight of those starts were quality starts. Mike is a fierce competitor and a great teammate. I suspect that he will be on a mission this season to be out there battling every fifth day. He makes us better."
This will be Hampton's second stint in Houston, where he enjoyed some of the best years of his career. A career-high, 22-win season in 1999 saw him finish second to Randy Johnson in the Cy Young Award voting. A successful six-year stint with the club ended after that season with Hampton joining the Mets for one season.
He went on to pitch for Colorado for two years (2001-02) and then signed with Atlanta, where his career has been racked with injuries. Hampton made 60 starts for the Braves over his first two seasons (2003-04) but has since made just 25 over the past four years.
Hampton, 36, missed the entire 2006 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery and had the 2007 season wiped out due to a strained oblique and torn flexor tendon.
In 388 career games, including 334 starts, for the Mariners, Astros, Mets, Rockies and Braves, the veteran lefty is 141-105 with a 4.01 earned-run average.
<< Hurricanes fire Laviolette; Maurice returns
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes have made a coaching
change, replacing Peter Laviolette with his predecessor, Paul Maurice.
Maurice will return to the job he held for seven full seasons and parts of two
others befor
<< Wingo reunites with McMurray at Roush Fenway Racing
Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roush Fenway Racing has named Donnie Wingo as
Jamie McMurray's crew chief for the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season. Wingo and
McMurray are paired again after working together for three seasons at Chip
Ganassi
<< Ballesteros back in intensive care
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seve Ballesteros returned to intensive care
Wednesday at a Spanish hospital after a fourth brain operation.
A valve was put into the Spaniard's brain to drain fluid and during the
surgery, doctors
<< Buffalo and Ball State meet for MAC title
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 12th-ranked Ball State Cardinals will try
to cap off an already remarkable run this Friday, as they take on the Buffalo
Bulls in the Mid-American Conference Championship game at Ford Field. It has
been a recor
Red Sox sign Pedroia to six-year deal >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with AL
MVP Dustin Pedroia on a six-year contract with a club option for 2015.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but numerous media outlets in Boston say
the deal is
Augusta suspends operations >>
Princeton, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the
Augusta Lynx have suspended operations, effective immediately, and voluntarily
relinquished their membership back to the third-tier league.
"We are very disappo
Valencia denies bankruptcy claim >>
Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Valencia have dismissed reports that the
club is on the verge of bankruptcy following a worsening of their financial
situation.
The 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions are reported to be almost $822 mill
Penguins recall Darling from Wheeling >>
Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
recalled goaltender Curtis Darling from the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, the
American Hockey League team announced on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Darling will
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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