Royals sign Garrett Hampson


Kansas City has made their first notable signing this offseason. The Royals have agreed to terms with former Marlins utility player Garrett Hampson on a one-year deal worth $2 million. Speed is the most notable part of Hampson's game. Last season while a member of the Marlins, the 29-year old stole only five stolen bases. Don't let the five stolen bases last season make you think the veteran doesn't have speed, because he certainly does. The new Royal has stolen 57 bases in his career. Hampson did walk 23 times last year, so he seems to be patient at the plate. Being patient at the plate doesn't always mean a player can hit, and the utility player's overall stats aren't great. Hampson's career batting average is  .241 with 333 hits and 29 home runs. Hampson reminds me of former Royals outfielder Billy Hamilton. Both Hampson and Hamilton have almost no pop in their bats and their batting averages are abysmal. Hamilton owns a career batting average of .239, while Hampson owns a slightly better average of  .241. Although the Royals signed Hamilton only to a one-year contract, the deal was still worth a whopping $5.25 million deal. The Hamilton deal was a flop for the team. Hamilton was designated for assignment by the Royals on August 16, 2019. The Hampson deal could be another flop for Kansas City. However, Hamilton was viewed as an everyday outfielder, while Hampson is viewed as a utility player. As a member of the Marlins, Hampson played multiple positions—second base, third base, shortstop, and the outfield. Kansas City very well could have overpaid Hampson. Last season Hampson landed a minor league deal with Miami. A minor league deal could tell a lot based on his career numbers. Although Hampson's stats are underwhelming, Bleacherreport ranked nine of MLB's free agents that were non-tendered by teams. Hampson ranked number eight on the site's list. In the same article, Hampson is viewed as a bench player: "With multiple starts at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield spots, Hampson is an extremely versatile player, and he logged a career-high 1.3 WAR during the 2023 season. The 29-year-old had a .242 expected batting average speaks to him playing over his head a bit, but he can still serve as a useful bench piece." Hampson was projected to earn $1.3 million this offseason. Kansas City decided the veteran's services were worth more than the projections expected. The question is why would a team sign a player with poor stats to a guaranteed contract? The answer is very simple, it's not. Despite Hampson's poor numbers, he must be doing something right to stay in the big leagues for six seasons without being designated for assignment or outrighted by either the Rockies or the Marlins. Finally, as Royals fans, we must stay positive. Remember this is the major leagues we're talking about, and any player can go off at any time and make big impacts in games. 


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