Braves Earn Nickname Acquiring Hampton

Mike Hampton was just traded for the second time in 24 hours, this time to the Braves. The Braves are paying only $35.5 M of the $84.5 M remaining (plus $19 M deferred signing bonus) in his contract. The Rockies have picked up $11 M (plus the bonus) and the Marlins will apparently pay $38 M for the honor of having Hampton on their roster for less than a day.

The Marlins dumped some big salaries (Wilson $6.5 M, Johnson $7 M, and Darensbourg $1.1M in 2003) but took on part of Hampton's and only have Tim Spooneybarger and Juan Pierre, two guys who will no longer even be in the majors by the time Hampton's contract ends, to show for it. I love that Loria magic.