Another Cuban defector, Ardolis Chapman

[jacksonianmarch]

So, this may not seem like much to most, but this guy is going to spark a ridiculous bidding war. He's 21 yrs old, 6'4" and is a left handed pitcher. He broke the Cuban record for hardest fastball when he hit 102mph. Here is a clip from the WBC

 

 

He mostly sat around 95 with the highest at around 98. This kid is definitely going to be the center of a bidding war and I bet NY and Boston will be in on it

[yeszir]

He's actually 72

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Chapman??

 

 

He's half white!

[BSN07]

Aroldis Chapman's Value

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 2 at 11:40am CST]

 

Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba and he's now free to sign with the highest bidder. So how much will teams offer the player many scouts consider the best left-handed pitching prospect in the world? ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. gathered some estimates and hears that the 21-year-old could sign a deal worth between $30-60MM.

When Jose Contreras defected from Cuba, the Yankees signed him for $32MM and Chapman's agent claims his client is the best player to defect since Contreras. But his agent isn't the only one singing Chapman's praises; one scouting director called the magnitude of the news "shocking."

 

Chapman can throw 100mph, but his secondary pitches need development and he's considered raw. Some question his maturity, but those who watched him in the WBC say there's no question that Chapman has charisma.

 

Arangure Jr. reminds us that we could be months away from a bidding war. Once we get there, expect the Yankees and Red Sox to have interest. Is he comparable to Stephen Strasburg? Most definitely. Kiley McDaniel says he's not quite as polished but represents a great example of what Strasburg will get as a free agent.

 

Baseball America's John Manuel says Daisuke Matsuzaka and Contreras are fair points of reference for Chapman. The Cuban lefty is younger than either of those two were when they came to the majors, and he throws harder. Manuel talked to a scout who says "you'll be searching your whole life" if you're looking for more in a pitcher.

 

I'm actually a little surprised this isn't a hot topic around these parts yet. This could end up getting really interesting. For all the talk about Strasburg, this guy looks comparable and he's a LHP. Like it says, his secondary stuff needs work so he's probably not MLB ready. But this guy would be awesome to get. This could end up being a big time bidding war. Should be fun to watch.

[BoSox21]

sounds like a lot of hype for a guy who, as of present time, apparently only has a fastball as a plus pitch

[BSN07]

sounds like a lot of hype for a guy who' date=' as of present time, apparently only has a fastball as a plus pitch[/quote']

 

96-102MPH FB is a nice place to start though.

 

No he probably doesn't deserve that kind of money since he isn't polished like Dice-K or Contreras, but it's not his fault someone will give it to him.

[BoSox21]

No, but when I read "Baseball America's John Manuel says Daisuke Matsuzaka and Contreras are fair points of reference for Chapman.", it raises eyebrows cause those two were major league ready when they came over to the US. A guy armed with just a fastball isn't major league ready. Hell, even Strasburg sounds more developed than this guy.

[Dojji]

Might be major league ready in relief. A lefty with a great fastball can thrive in the pen even with not much else at all.

[BSN07]

I don't think he's ML ready. But if the Red Sox get him, I'll be fairly confident they could remedy that. They have shown they can develop pitchers with the best of them.And I don't think it would take long to develop him. Put him with some good pitching coaches and he could develop fast. If not then I wouldn't think it be a stretch to expect to see him by 2012 . By then Buchholz and Bowden might be in the rotation. And the Sox would still have Tazawa and Chapman waiting in the wings. That wouldn't be a bad situation to be in.

 

At worst he could probably be a dominating late inning RP.

[BSN07]

Once pitcher Aroldis Chapman defected from the Cuban national team in the Netherlands on Thursday, speculation instantly began over which major league club would sign him and how much money he would command. The Yankees, who have been at the forefront of signing international pitchers, will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Chapman. He fires a fastball that exceeds 100 miles per hour and is widely considered the premier pitching prospect in Cuba. His age was reported Thursday as 21, but reports in March at the World Baseball Classic said he was 26.

 

New York Times

[Dojji]

Pretty critical to get an accurate age here. If he's 26 then he's a reliever if he's 21 he might develop into a starter.

[BSN07]

Pretty critical to get an accurate age here. If he's 26 then he's a reliever if he's 21 he might develop into a starter.

 

Agreed.

[Cocos Disciples]

Keith Law says in some tourney (either Olympics on WBC, I forget) that Chapman was hovering around 89-90, IIRC. I would definitely have to do some serious investigation before signing him.

[Cocos Disciples]

He might be 26.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/sports/baseball/03yanknotes.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=aroldis%20chapman%20&st=cse

[Dojji]

A hyped up Latin prospect of indeterminate age? Say it ain't so!

[Dipre]

Keith Law says in some tourney (either Olympics on WBC' date=' I forget) that Chapman was hovering around 89-90, IIRC. I would definitely have to do some serious investigation before signing him.[/quote']

 

I saw him hit 100 on at least 6 different occasions in the WBC.

[Rich1083]

ESPN is reporting that Aroldis Chapman has officially been declared a free agent. This should turn in to a pretty interesting story.

[The_Destroyah]

The dude that clocked in at like 103 at the WBC?

[RWTP24]

The Sox and Yanks are going to be all over him.

[Rich1083]

The dude that clocked in at like 103 at the WBC?

 

Yeah, the Cuban player who defected. There was a good video on ESPN a month ago or so talking about him. The kid is a stud. From what I read, the Sox, Yanks, Dodgers and Angels are likely to be the front runners.

[CoachC.]

ESPN is reporting that Aroldis Chapman has officially been declared a free agent. This should turn in to a pretty interesting story.

 

Especially since his agent is in the Bronx at the Yankees/Red Sox series this weekend.

[Dojji]

Any definite proof of his age? Teams have been getting burnt by this, so he's gotta prove he's as young as he says he is if he wants big money.

[BSN07]

There is a big difference between 21 and 26 years old( two ages I have read the most). If he is 21, he's worth the 40M figure I've heard out there. If he's 26, he's probably more likely to be a RP with his lack of secondary pitches IMO. Thus lowering his value.

 

It should be interesting though. IMO he is a Red Sox or Yankee next season.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I think the Mets end up signing him.

[PWNdroia]

So, this may not seem like much to most, but this guy is going to spark a ridiculous bidding war. He's 21 yrs old, 6'4" and is a left handed pitcher. He broke the Cuban record for hardest fastball when he hit 102mph. Here is a clip from the WBC

 

 

He mostly sat around 95 with the highest at around 98. This kid is definitely going to be the center of a bidding war and I bet NY and Boston will be in on it

 

Remember Dice-K and the mythical gyroball?

 

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