Comments on: Hampton in 2009? http://section435.com/2008/08/11/hampton-in-2009/ An Atlanta Braves blog. From the upper deck at Turner Field. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:34:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JB http://section435.com/2008/08/11/hampton-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-319 JB Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:45:20 +0000 http://section435.com/?p=118#comment-319 I wouldn't be completely opposed to Hampton coming back in 2009 under the condition that it is incentive laden, short, and cheaper than the one he's finishing up now. There may be a team willing to take him on even with the risk factor. Maybe if he doesn't demand big bucks a team that has little to lose, not a (whole) lot to spend, and a lot to gain from a comeback year would be a good fit. (Kansas City for example). I don't see him asking for less than $10 million for any team he signs with but a lot of Braves fans are going to do a lot of breath holding if we took him on again. ~JB@<a href="http://braveslaunchpad.com" rel="nofollow">TheLaunchingPad</a> I wouldn’t be completely opposed to Hampton coming back in 2009 under the condition that it is incentive laden, short, and cheaper than the one he’s finishing up now.

There may be a team willing to take him on even with the risk factor. Maybe if he doesn’t demand big bucks a team that has little to lose, not a (whole) lot to spend, and a lot to gain from a comeback year would be a good fit. (Kansas City for example).

I don’t see him asking for less than $10 million for any team he signs with but a lot of Braves fans are going to do a lot of breath holding if we took him on again.

~JB@TheLaunchingPad

]]> By: Bud http://section435.com/2008/08/11/hampton-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-318 Bud Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:07:08 +0000 http://section435.com/?p=118#comment-318 A point to add to my comment above: I believe Hampton is smart enough to know he's not going to get a huge deal, be it from the Braves or anybody else. He's not going to get a two-year, $10 million deal, even if he were to win every start the rest of this season. But if he can stay healthy and pitch decent these final six weeks, there will be plenty of franchises willing to take a flyer on him. Bud. http://braves.today.com A point to add to my comment above: I believe Hampton is smart enough to know he’s not going to get a huge deal, be it from the Braves or anybody else. He’s not going to get a two-year, $10 million deal, even if he were to win every start the rest of this season.

But if he can stay healthy and pitch decent these final six weeks, there will be plenty of franchises willing to take a flyer on him.

Bud.
http://braves.today.com

]]> By: Bud http://section435.com/2008/08/11/hampton-in-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-317 Bud Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:05:11 +0000 http://section435.com/?p=118#comment-317 Agree wholeheartedly that there will be plenty of teams willing to take a flyer on Hampton if he can stay healthy the rest of this season. Left-hander, great competitor, still can break off that nasty breaking ball, and yeah, dude can rake. Plenty of teams will offer him an incentive-heavy deal with a small base salary, or offer him a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training. I wouldn't count on Hampton being a Brave in 2009. But, I know how much he values the organization and the patience and faith they've displayed the past three years. All offers similar in nature, if the Braves offer him an invite to camp next spring, I think he may take it and try to make the team. And, as he's shown, when healthy, he still can pitch. He's a veteran guy, and with a young rotation (young on experience) as we look toward 2009, it couldn't hurt to have a veteran lefty in the mix every fifth day ... If he can stay healthy. Bravos still gotta make a run at a front-line starter in the offseason, be it signing a free-agent or making a big trade. But I won't be surprised if Hampton finds himself in Lake Buena Vista come mid February. Agree wholeheartedly that there will be plenty of teams willing to take a flyer on Hampton if he can stay healthy the rest of this season. Left-hander, great competitor, still can break off that nasty breaking ball, and yeah, dude can rake. Plenty of teams will offer him an incentive-heavy deal with a small base salary, or offer him a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training.

I wouldn’t count on Hampton being a Brave in 2009. But, I know how much he values the organization and the patience and faith they’ve displayed the past three years. All offers similar in nature, if the Braves offer him an invite to camp next spring, I think he may take it and try to make the team. And, as he’s shown, when healthy, he still can pitch. He’s a veteran guy, and with a young rotation (young on experience) as we look toward 2009, it couldn’t hurt to have a veteran lefty in the mix every fifth day …

If he can stay healthy.

Bravos still gotta make a run at a front-line starter in the offseason, be it signing a free-agent or making a big trade. But I won’t be surprised if Hampton finds himself in Lake Buena Vista come mid February.

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