Hampton

The chase to sign free-agent pitcher Mike Hampton took some interesting turns Saturday.

Citing a Chicago Cubs source, the New York Post reported the club is prepared to offer the left-hander a six-year, $102 million deal. At that rate, the $17M average would make Hampton the highest paid pitcher in baseball and he would share the top spot with Toronto's Carlos Delgado for the highest paid player in the game.

Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail adamantly denied the report Saturday, telling the Chicago Tribune that Hampton's agent Mark Rodgers, hasn't solicited any offers, but might give MacPhail the "green light" as early as Monday.

"You can file that under 'F' for fiction," MacPhail told the Tribune. "You can tell whoever it is to get another source."

Hampton, 28, who went 15-10 in helping lead the New York Mets to the World Series last season, is looking for a multiyear contract. Hampton narrowed the field he will take offers from to five - the Mets, Cubs, Cardinals, Braves and Rockies - after striking the Astros from the list Friday.