Aroldis Chapman Declared A Free Agent

$1

Let this guy bullpen a few times before all the crazy bonus offers.

I've always wondered what would happen to these guys that defect if they ever step foot in Cuba again...

Can't see him going to Boston, but that's probably because I can see Boston pursuing Lackey really hard this offseason. I suppose it's entirely possible they do both though.

I fully expect Boston to be in the talks, don't get me wrong, but my pick for now, barring any significant news to sway me otherwise, is New York.

"Can't see him going to Boston, but that's probably because I can see Boston pursuing Lackey really hard this offseason."

Boston is about 25th amongst teams to be interested in Lackey this offseason and considering he is by far the best starter available via FA, somebody is going to have to way over pay to obtain him and Boston already has 2 starters superior to him.

Just why would the Sox be willing to spend 60-80M for a 31 year old #3 starter (on the Sox staff)is strange, especially when there are a multitude of teams he could slide right into the Ace hole he is accustomed to, or got to the NYY as a #2 and easily get more than Boston would be more pay.

6:53pm: Just heard from Tyler Kepner of the New York Times that Brian Cashman is visiting Edwin Mejia, agent of Aroldis Chapman.

Arangure says on Twitter that the agent is making a trip to Yankee Stadium this weekend.

"he could slide right into the Ace hole he is accustomed to"- Johns

Sorry, had to do it. LOL.
Lester is out, man that must have hurt. Sox fans have to be worried.

This guy has a lot of hype around him. Throwing hard is half way towards making you a decent pitcher but not enough. If we're talking something like $10-$15 mil per then we need to pass. Feels too much like Igawa 2.0.

Feels too much like Igawa 2.0.

Absolutely no knowledge of Baseball shown whatsoever with that comment

Chapman is a lefty version of Strasburg gimme a break with the Igawa comment. For the Yankees he is Igawa but if he signed with Boston he's the next big thing gimme a break

Posted by: SouvenirCityBaby | September 25, 2009 at 09:36 PM

somebody is a homer in all seriousness putting the rivalry aside YFS78 is one of the more knowledgeable and intelligent posters in this site ,and the strasburg comment you made is ridiculous ,thats just who buster onley compared him too,and only in terms of hype may I remind you strasburg hasn't thrown a pitch yet

but on a more serious note, i am a die hard red sox fan and i dont really like the idea of spending all this money on him. bidding starting at 40 mill? c'mon. i just fear that he will turn into another dice-k. from what ive seen though he has nasty stuff. but id rather give it to a guy like lackey and slide him into the #3 spot because im confident that beckett will correct his ways. and i know it will cost more than 40 mill for lackey but hes also a proven ace

"I've always wondered what would happen to these guys that defect if they ever step foot in Cuba again..."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1362435/

Have fun, it is a fantastic documentary.

"Chapman is a lefty version of Strasburg"

Speaking of Strasburg.. He gets his pro initiation in the Fall instructional league for the Nats starting this week. Anybody in Florida may be able to catch him in Northern division action for the Nat's, since he is on their roster. Am hoping he comes to Lakeland and pitches, so will be able to see him throw vs the Tigers Fall Ball team.

Feels too much like Igawa 2.0.

Absolutely no knowledge of Baseball shown whatsoever with that comment

Chapman is a lefty version of Strasburg gimme a break with the Igawa comment. For the Yankees he is Igawa but if he signed with Boston he's the next big thing gimme a break

Posted by: SouvenirCityBaby | September 25, 2009 at 09:36 PM
------------------

Let's start with this....

"Chapman is a lefty version of Strasburg gimme a break with the Igawa comment".

I wasn't comparing the ability of Chapman to that Igawa at all. By "Igawa 2.0" I meant that Igawa was much heralded based upon what he did in Japan. There was zero evidence against better competition to go by. Same can be said about Chapman. Great reputation but aside from what he did @ the WBC there's very little to judge him by. A pitcher can get by with a 100 mph FB and no other pitches against weaker competition. Anyone who signs him and expects him to be a FOR starter in 2010 is taking a huge risk. At best I think he will be the most expensive AA pitcher next year. If the Yanks signed him I would prefer they allow him a full year to refine his offspeed stuff.

"For the Yankees he is Igawa but if he signed with Boston he's the next big thing gimme a break"

You do realize I am a Yankee fan right? Why would I push him as garbage if he signed with the Yanks but Sandy Koufax if he went to Boston? Think before you start poppin' off friend.

"I meant that Igawa was much heralded based upon what he did in Japan. There was zero evidence against better competition to go by."

I think you're being way to nice to Igawa. When he came over he was only considered to be a poor man's Matsuzaka whose stuff wouldn't translate to the bigs....and those reports were correct, it seems.

Haven't read much about Chapman other than he might only be a middle reliever...and if that is what you're talking about then I agree, he probably isn't worth the money.

But Igawa he is not.

NYY