Analysis: Hampton, Brocail, Branyan

With all of the arbitration offers made, signaling which free agents will cost a compensatory draft pick for their new teams, the market should get moving after the slow start so far. If not during the balance of this week, it's almost certain to pick up at the winter meetings. Right? Don't all these free agents have to sign somewhere? Not to mention the paucity of trade activity. Well, the first signs of a hot stove thaw are here. Let's take a look at the latest signings... Astros sign LHP Mike Hampton: Hampton has pitched in 25 games over the last four seasons, missing all of 2006 and 2007 before going 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA for the Braves this year. He was 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA, a career year, in his final season with the Astros in 1999, before having a good year with the Mets and then going down as perhaps the worst free-agent signing in history with the Rockies. It's a one-year, $2 million contract, plus incentives that the Astros will be glad to pay out. But any enthusiasm has to be ... (link)