Mets Ink Atlantic League Hurler To Minor League Deal
Justin Hampson pitching for the San Diego Padres. Credit: SD Dirk / Flickr
According to Baseball America's Matthew Eddy, the New York Mets have signed left-handed pitcher Justin Hampson to a minor league contract.
Credit: LI Ducks
Hampson has been somewhat of a minor league journeyman the past couple of seasons. He last pitched at the big league level with the San Diego Padres, who play in a notoriously pitcher's friendly park similar to Citi Field.
His best year in the bigs came in 2007 where he put up an ERA of 2.70 in 39 games pitched. The next season, he produced similar results by posting an ERA of 2.93 in 35 games.
Most recently, Hampson was a member of the 2010 Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League for a brief time during the month of July last season.
He pitched in merely four games with the Ducks, including one poor outing on July 21st against Newark in which he gave up four runs in one inning en route to a 12-5 loss. This caused his ERA with the team to balloon to 11.25.
Earlier in the year the 30 year-old pitched with the York Revolution and his numbers were a bit more respectable. Hampson pitched in 16 games with the Revs and accumulated a 4.96 ERA with 11 strike-outs and 9 walks.
The bottom line is that just like the Casey Fossum signing from a few weeks ago, I see this move as being nothing more than organizational depth. If Hampson does crack the Major League roster at some point this year, it will likely be in the form of an emergency start or (more likely) a seventh man in the bullpen type of deal. Nevertheless, a good low-risk pickup by Mr. Alderson.
Former Newark Bear Isaiah Ka’aihue Signs With Rockies
Isaiah Ka'aihue at the plate against the Camden Riversharks on 09/10/10. Credit: Phil Hoops
According to Baseball Prospectus writer Kevin Goldstein, the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a minor league deal with former Newark Bears catcher Isaiah Ka'aihue for the 2011 campaign.
The 25 year-old Ka'aihue had bounced around various levels of the minor leagues throughout his entire six year playing career before coming to the Brick City in the middle of the 2010 season. Arguably his best season in affiliated ball came in 2008 as a member of the Mississippi Braves (Double-A affiliate of you guessed it....the Atlanta Braves) with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Last season with the Bears was Ka'aihue's second in the independent circuit. The 230lb younger brother of Kansas City Royals prospect, Kila Ka'aihue, assumed the role of starting catcher in Newark following the departure of veteran backstop J.R. House, who signed on with the New York Mets affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.
Ka'aihue appeared in 55 games with the Bears and amassed a batting average of .216. While he certainly didn't win the batting title he did hit 5 home runs with 21 runs batted in only 185 at-bats. Granted those are not the best numbers you'd want out of your starter, but it's tough to find good catching that can hit for average, especially at the minor league level. After all, there aren't too many Mike Piazzas or Joe Mauers floating around out there.
As they say in professional wrestling, best of luck to Mr. Ka'aihue in his future endeavors!
Pirates Looking to Sign Signing Ryan Church?
Djean Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes that the Pirates are interested in signing right fielder Ryan Church.
Church, 31, hit .273 with four home runs and 40 RBI’s while splitting time as a member of both the Mets and Braves last season.
This news is somewhat surprising as it was rumored for weeks that the Pirates were looking to sign another free agent outfielder by the name of Rick Ankiel.
However, as Kovacevic notes that Ankiel’s agent, Scott Boras, is still touting his client as a starting outfielder.
Last season, Ankiel hit for a dismal .231 average and hit only 11 home runs, which is nearly half the amount he hit in 2008 (25).
The Pirates do not want to be in the position of having to block one of their top prospects, Jose Tabata, when he gets called up from the minor leagues.
I think Ryan Church would be a solid pickup for any team, especially for the role of a reserve outfielder. He brings to the table a strong arm for the outfield and a bat that could potentially hit 20 home runs.
Bob Howry Signs With Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have come to terms with reliever, Bob Howry, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic [Hat tip MLB Trade Rumors].
Terms of the deal are not immediately available, however it includes an option for the 2011 season and is rumored to be worth somewhere in the ball park of $2 million to $3 million.
Last season with the San Francisco Giants, the Arizona native appeared in 63 games and pitched to an ERA of 3.39. His K:BB ratio was 2:1 (46:23).
Throughout his eleven year career, Howry has an ERA of 3.66.
This is a pretty solid signing for the D’Backs in my opinion as it gives them a viable setup man to help strengthen a bullpen that includes ex-Met Aaron Heilman and Chad Qualls.
Although the Mets were never publicly connected to Howry, I think that these are the types of players they should be targeting. Although Howry’s numbers are not earth shattering he is a very consistent pitcher.
Orioles Continue To Spend; Add Gonzalez and Atkins
While things may be quiet in terms of Mets activity, the Orioles are wasting no time in building their club up for the 2010 campaign and beyond.
Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun are reporting that the Orioles have inked former Colorado Rockie, Garrett Atkins, to a one year deal.
Atkins, who was non-tendered by the Rockies last week, is coming off the worst full season performance of his big league career. He hit only .226 with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs with on OBP of .308.
These numbers are down significantly from the year prior where he hit to the tune of .286 to compliment 21 home runs and 99 RBIs and an OBP of .328..
However, with Atkins’s track record I think he would have been a solid pickup for the Mets to possibly platoon at first base.
For what it’s worth, Bill James predicts that he will rebound in 2010 and hit roughly .285 while slugging somewhere in the ball park of 15 home runs and 70 RBIs.
That was not Andy MacPhail’s only acquisition of the day. He also signed free agent reliever, Mike Gonzalez, to a lucrative two year contract worth somewhere between $12 and $16 million.
Last year Gonzalez was rock solid, posting an ERA of 2.42 in 74.1 innings pitched. Additionally he struck out 90 batters, while only walking 33.
With such impressive numbers, Gonzalez projects to be the team’s closer heading into next year.
However, I’m not as high on this acquisition as I was about Atkins. While Gonzalez is lights out when healthy, his ability to stay healthy is questionable.
Although if Gonzalez can prove me wrong than the Os will have made two very significant, in my opinion, acquisitions that will help turn this club into a winning team.
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