According to ESPN.com, Hampton and the Astros reached agreement Monday on a contract pending the free-agent pitcher passing a physical, KRIV-TV in Houston reported on its Web site. Terms were not available.
Astros GM Ed Wade declined to comment.
Hampton pitched for the Astros from 1994-99, with his best season coming in 1999, when he was 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA.
Hampton has spent the past four seasons with the Atlanta Braves but did not pitch in 2006 and '07 because of injuries. In 2008, he was 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA after missing the first four months of the season because of injury.
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The value of this deal all depends on the financials - of which incentives are sure to be a part. Hampton has enjoyed a few good seasons since leaving the Astros following the 1999 season, but hasn't started more than 30 games in a season since 2003. Hampton had Tommy John surgery in 2005, tore his oblique, pulled a hammy and strained a pec. And if you touch the tweezers to the side of his spleen, his nose lights up and he buzzes.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
