DALLAS -- With the winter meetings set to begin Friday, offers for left-hander Mike Hampton are rolling in.
| |
|
| |
| 2000 SEASON STATISTICS |
| W-L |
IP |
H |
BB |
SO |
ERA |
| 15-10 |
217.2 | 194 |
99 | 151 |
3.14 | |
|
Hampton, considered the best pitcher still on the market, has received offers of $112 million over eight years from the Colorado Rockies and $105 million over seven years from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The New York Mets have indicated to Hampton's agent that they will go as high as $105 million over seven years for him to re-sign, and the Chicago Cubs might also make an offer.
However, Hampton's decision probably will be based as much on where he wants to live as much as anythinig else.
Major-league sources say Hampton's agent, Mark Rodgers, has asked the five teams still involved with Hampton to submit offers.
The New York Times reported that Rodgers thinks Hampton won't sign during the winter meetings, but will wait until the middle of the month.
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 a New York Post report last week that he made an offer of six years, $102 million to Hampton.
"You can file that under 'F' for fiction," MacPhail told the Chicago 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 multi-year contract.
| |
ALSO SEE
Rumor Central
|
