Mike Hampton Back with the Houston Astros

Mike Hampton is back with the Houston Astros after agreeing to a one-year deal. The contract the 36-year-old pitcher is set to sign calls for him to make a base salary of $2 million. It’s also believed that there are a number of incentives in the contract that could make it ultimately be worth much more.

Earlier in his career, Hampton spent six seasons with the Astros — from 1994 to 1999. During that run, Hampton posted an ERA of 3.83 or better in each season. His best season with Houston was his last season. In 1999, he went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA.

After being out of baseball due to injuries in 2006 and 2007, Hampton was back in 2008 with the Atlanta Braves. He finished the season with a 3-4 record and an ERA of 4.85.

This contract is a bit of a risk for the Astros, especially considering that Hampton has a total of 25 starts since the end of the 2004 season. But if he can reclaim any of the magic he had in Houston, it’ll be a gamble that paid off.