Garrett Hampson Landing Spots: 3 potential destinations for veteran utilityman coming off rough season with Kansas City Royals
It was certainly not the year that Garrett Hampson was hoping for. After signing a one-year, $2 million deal with the Kansas City Royals last offseason, there was a hope that the former top prospect would be able to consistently produce for the team. Although his defensive versatilty proved to be an invaluable tool for the Royals, his production at the plate left much to be desired.
Over the course of 113 games, Garrett Hampson was limited at the dish, posting a .230 batting average with no home runs and only 16 RBIs. Although he was able to chip in with seven stolen bases, it was not the season that either Hampson or the Kansas City Royals were looking for.
All that being said, Garrett Hampson should have no issue securing a low-cost contract this offseason. Although he has never been much of a home run contributor throughout his MLB career, his defensive versatiity makes him an asset to teams, as well as his ability to swipe a few bags when he gets on base.
Here's a look at 3 potential landing spots for Garrett Hampson in free agency
#1 - The Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are going to be an interesting team to keep an eye on this offseason. The historically frugal franchise has now left Oakland, only to sign Luis Severino to a franchise record free agent contract.
Hampson is not going to command a massive contract, however, his versatility could make him an intriguing target for the A's. The veteran could be a low-risk signing that they could flip later.
#2 - Los Angeles Dodgers
On the other end of the spectrum are the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even though they have one of the most expensive and talented rosters in baseball, they will need to find the smaller pieces to round out their roster.
Enter Garrett Hampson would could thrive in a depth role for the World Series champions. The temptation of playing for the champs could be too much to pass up for the 30-year-old.
#3 - Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners need help across the board, however, the infield is a glaring issue that they will need to address. Although Hampson might be an average hitter at best, his ability to play nearly every position on the field could make him an ace up the sleeve of Mariners manager Dan Wilson. This flexibilty could also allow the team to get creative when approaching the rest of the roster.