Hampton out for season.

[Asmodai]

you need a lot more than one guy off waivers if you had Hampton as your ace

[thrill]

He was joking.

[Cronos]

The 34-year-old Hampton has failed to meet expectations since signing a $121 million, eight-year contract with Colorado before the 2001 season.

Why do I get the feeling that 7 years from now they are going to be saying the same thing about Zito?

The other two of the once "big 3" certainly haven't been too healthy since leaving Oakland, so it would certainly make sense.

[JL21]

Barry Zito is rock solid when it comes to staying healthy. I think he'll be alright in that aspect. He should still be considered overpaid, but I wouldn't compare it to as bad of a contract as Hampton got.

At the time of Hampton's deal, he'd been rock solid in terms of staying healthy as well. He'd rattled off four years in a row of 32+ starts and hadn't had any serious arm problems. And unlike Zito, Hampton's peripherals were stable/going in the right direction at the time of the deal.

In short, I think the Hampton deal- bad as it's turned out- can make a better case for itself than the Zito deal.

[greenback44]

Hampton was going to Colorado though. I don't know that anybody, even Santana, would be worth that kind of money at pre-humidor Coors. It turned too many pitchers into batting practice machines.

[taxman]

In one offseason, Dan O'Dowd inked Hampton, Neagle (5y, $55M - waived), and Helton's 200 year, $2B extension.

I can't think of a worse offseason, ever, in any sport. He ruined the franchise.