Caminiti Returns to Astros

Ken Caminiti got his wish Sunday.

The free-agent third baseman agreed to a two-year, $9.5-million contract with the Houston Astros just days after spurning a much richer offer with hopes of returning to the team that launched his career. The Astros, who traded Caminiti to the San Diego Padres four years ago, have an option for a third year at $5.5 million. Incentives are based on plate appearances.

“To me, Ken is the ultimate gamer,” Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker said. “I can still remember him making diving stops in the [1998] divisional series [against Houston] when he could hardly run down the baseline.”

The switch-hitting Caminiti blossomed offensively in 1996, when he was voted the NL’s most valuable player, but has had a variety of injuries the last two years. He hit 29 home runs for the Padres last season, but slumped to .252 with 82 runs batted in while missing 21 games because of a strained left leg muscle.

Caminiti rejected a reported $21.5-million offer from the Detroit Tigers, who signed Dean Palmer instead. Cleveland, both New York teams and the Chicago White Sox had expressed interest in Caminiti.

He made it clear early, however, he wanted to return to Houston because he still maintains his home in nearby Richmond.

“Baseball is a strange life [for] a family, and I think happiness is being with my family, my kids and my wife,” Caminiti said.

*

Sammy Sosa and Jason Giambi hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning, helping a team of U.S. major leaguers rebound from a five-run deficit to beat their Japanese counterparts, 9-8, at Tokyo.

With the victory, the major leaguers ended a seven-game series against the Japanese stars with a 5-2 record. Sosa was selected the series’ most valuable player.