Transaction Analysis

Rockies sign Make Hampton for 8 years, $124 million

The Neagle signing wasn't a particularly good move, but the Rockies did the right thing by signing Hampton.  Hampton should be an interesting test of the Coors Factor - he does rely on movement, but not anything very sharp like Kile's curveball.  Hampton has said that he has noticed a reduced break on his own curveball while pitching in Colorado, but he feels like his big money pitches, like his sinker, lose little movement in the thin air.  Hampton is one of the most ground-ball prone pitchers in baseball, which is just perfect for Colorado.  Certainly, there's no particularly good fit for that environment, but Hampton is probably one of the better fits you'll find.  Signing him for 8 years is fine - he'll be in his mid-30s at the end of the contract, but he still should be an above-average starter then.  Right now, they have themselves one of the best pitchers in baseball, and could have the best pitching staff in the league.