Hampton dealt to Atlanta
| |  | | Johnson |
| |  | | | Hampton |
Mike Hampton's stay with the Marlins was brief. A whirlwind weekend sent the left-hander from Colorado to Florida and then to Atlanta, where he'll try to
rejuvenate his career. The Marlins get reliever Tim Spooneybarger and minor-league pitcher Ryan Baker from the Braves. Commissioner Bud Selig approved the deal on Nov. 18. Hampton, 21-28 for the Rockies the past two seasons, was part of a six-player swap between Colorado and Florida completed Nov. 16.
In that deal, Hampton and outfielder Juan Pierre moved to the Marlins, while catcher Charles Johnson, outfielder Preston Wilson, left-handed reliever Vic Darensbourg and second base prospect Pablo Ozuna went to the Rockies.
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Stark: Got all that?
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| Darensbourg |
One question several baseball people had about the Colorado-Florida deal is how Vic Darensbourg was allowed to be included in it. Darensbourg was outrighted to Triple-A by the Marlins in August. And at the time of the trade, he was still included on a MLB list of six-year minor-league free agents. Turns out, though, he was incorrectly listed, because the Marlins owed him $1.1 million for next year, plus at least another $200,000 buyout on a 2004 option. So while Darensbourg had the option to become a free agent, he also would have voided the contract if he had taken it. Whereupon he opted for the guraranteed money. And that allowed the Marlins to trade him, even though he wasn't on their 40-man roster.
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'Billy' putting up a fight
| |  | | Billy wants to see some loot for getting the boot. |
So much for thinking baseball mascots live a glamorous life. John Routh, also known as Billy the Marlin, the mascot for the Marlins, is considering to sue the team over his recent firing, The Palm Beach Post reported Nov. 2. The 43-year-old Routh, who made more than $80,000, wants a severance package. He's hired an attorney and also received backing from his former felt-woven colleagues. "I've heard from all the other mascots around the leagues," Routh told The Post. "The Phillie Phanatic called me first, then Raymond (of the Devil Rays) in Tampa. I got a call from the Pirate Parrot and Lou Seal from San Francisco. It's all been very positive."
Who wants tickets?
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According to salary numbers distributed to the general managers in Arizona, the Braves had six players who earned at least $7 million last season. The Marlins had one (Charles Johnson). So how surreal is it that next year, the Marlins will pay a player (i.e., Mike Hampton) $7 million to play for the Braves? Then again, how surreal is it that the Marlins will pay Hampton as much money not to play for them next year as they paid anyone to play for them this year?
