Strong Interest In Aroldis Chapman

where do you "hear" this MLBTR?

The second part about the Cardinals being more aggressive is completely false. They are still uncertain about age and are going to explore it more next week, as opposed to "meeting" with him.

Come on, dude.

Yeah, I don't doubt that it's a good source, this certainly isn't like the Zito/Reyes trade that Tim posted a couple years back, but some clarification on how the source knows this couldn't hurt. Not that I'm questioning your credibility by any means, though.

And as a fan of the Chicago teams, I'm really curious to see how Chapman fits into the Cubs' plans, unless his contract isn't factored into their payroll or something, because they have way too much money committed already.

With the White Sox, certainly their past interest in Cuban defectors like Alexei and Viciedo, along with Contreras' success here, factors into their interest, as well as the fact that they dealt the majority of their quality pitching talent in the Peavy trade, but on the whole, they would probably be better off hedging their bets, signing multiple amateur guys, than spending all of this cash on Chapman.

Oh god, I just had a Chris Tucker flashback...

I'm sorry but I'd rather take the 40-60 million and put it towards established MLB players. Vs giving it to a player with a young talented player with a "chance" to be good...who also has more of a reality that he will not be.

"Who knows...maybe it won't actually cost $40-60MM."

Yeah given his numerous flaws (command, lack of offspeed stuff, lack of out-pitch, essentially lack of anything but a 96-100 fastball), I'm not convinced that the bidding will reach that high. He'll definitely get a lot, more than Strasburg, but $60M?

He just has an awful lot of develop left for a guy that wants more money than essentially every other free agent?

And another question: Does anyone know how the MLB service time situation will apply to Chapman? Like, if he signs a four-year deal, would that cover three years and one arbitration year, leaving two more years of team control, or would he hit free agency upon finishing that four-year deal?

scribbletone-

I don't know for sure, but I would venture to say that Chapman, since he didn't go through the draft, would b etreated as a FA.

I think most teams realize he is has some deficiences and is unproven, so they won't offer big,big money. And seeing as he'll get another huge contract(if successful) in 4/5 years, they will keep his value down this time.

I could see only 25-30 million for 4/5 years getting him signed. somehwere in a 5/6 million per year range, IMO.

Tim, I have a question about the 40-60 million dollar range presented. Is this based strictly on speculation on behalf of the writer or is it based on comments made by an agent or something else?

I'm not an ESPNinsider and I just want to know what this figure is based off of.

"Why would there be an exception for Cuban defectors? There isn't an exception for Japanese imports. Hideki Okajima is going through arbitration now."

Because the MLB and the NBP have an agreement about non-FA players enter the MLB. As for Cuba, well you have the how international politics thingy. Chapman is a FA and fair game... it's a weird policy and it always brings up the question of an international draft, but there you go.

"Why would there be an exception for Cuban defectors? There isn't an exception for Japanese imports. Hideki Okajima is going through arbitration now. Daisuke's contract was also for 6 years for just this reason"

I'm just not clear on this because Jose Contreras signed a four-year deal when he came to the U.S., and then signed another three-year extension with Chicago, but he never went through the arbitration process or anything.

I would love it if someone gave me an actual answer.

"I'm not an ESPNinsider and I just want to know what this figure is based off of."

It's speculation, as far as I can tell, Chapman or his agent haven't discussed their asking price publicly yet.

I am guessing since he had to establish residency in a country other than Cuba before being declared a free agent he will be subject to the same arbitration rules as all other international free agents.

I'm obviously as lost as you are scribbletone then (more lost actually). I wondered why someone i knew was usually very well informed would ask what i thought to be such an obvious question. My mistake.

Also sorry TwinsRoyals for criticizing. I'm not usually this much of a jerk.

I'm just embarassing myself all over the place today.

I remember this came up in the Danys Baez situation after he signed with the Indians. I distinctly recall that he signed a four-year deal, which upon expiration had a team option that hte Indians declined. At that point, he was still under team control, not a free agent.

So yes, even if Chapman's deal runs for just four years, he'd still be under the Yankees...err..team control for six.

"I'm going to assume that Chapman can't be a free agent until he accumulates six years of service time for now"

It depends on the contract. Let's say hypothetically Chapman signs a 5 year contract major league deal. Now unless there's specific wording that says the team forfeits arbitration rights when the contract expires, Chapman would be arbitration eligible for 1 year. Hideki Matsui had a situation like that. According to Cot's they had to sign him to an extension when his first contract expired or grant him FA. At least I think that's how it works... someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

For certain players they do put a clause in the contract where the player wont be offered arbitration. For example Kosuke Fukudome. After his contract is up he will be a free agent. For other players its the same thing. If the contract is worked out to cancel out arbitration then the player is just a free agent.

It has to do with they type of contract they sign. If Chapman signs a minor league contract then he will go through arbitration. The large amount he is paid is a signing bonus. If he signed a major league contract for 30 million 5 year deal, that would be a major league deal then he plays for the year he signed for. It all depends on the type of contract. Minor League then you go through arbitration. If its a major league then it's the amount of years he signed for.

Can we just say that EVERY MLB team has interest in Aroldis Chapman? Just to save time...

He's going to the Marlins.....

Isn't it odd that some posters come on here and pan MLBTR for posting this? They claim to know more than a reputable site that's always been upfront and reliable, yet they don't say how they themselves know the information they claim to know. They claim they know what teams are willing to spend, who's in the bidding and who's out, who's aggressive and who's not, etc etc..... If you're going to rip MLBTR because you don't agree with what's posted then how about telling us how you happen to know all this information that you just pulled out of your a$$? Oh that's right, you can't, you don't have any sources or inside information and no clue beyond what you think might happen. /end rant

Nice to see the Cubs and White Sox in the bidding. They both should always be in on players like this given the size of their market. No team in either of their divisions can compete with them for market size so they should be using that to their advantage by spending the money they earn from their market size on players. If nothing else they'll drive up the price for other large market teams. I'm sure small market teams won't like this but that's the way it is.

Being a diehard yankees fan I'm not sold on this kid. I'd much rather go out and get lackey and keep pettitte and have a rotation with

CC
Lackey
Burnett
Pettitte
Joba

To me that makes more sense and sign figgins and retain Damon to dh that to me would be a great post season and would make them the beasts of the east big time..

You might as well take the White Sox out of that mix, Kenny Williams is as unpredictable as they come but at that price range he wouldn't even consider him.

Rightful so too, 100 mph on the gun without legit experience does not earn you that kind of check, ridiculous to think even a large market team such as the Yankees or Bo Sox offer such an insane amount for an unproven pitcher.

Chapman to meet with the Cardinals on Monday in then the Red Sox on Wednesday according to Jorge Arangure of ESPN.

http://twitter.com/jorgearangure/status/5102660444

how bout this.

CC
Burnett
Davis
Chapman
Pettite

Davis as in Doug Davis

Oakland will only sign Chapman if he is 39 yrs old and wants to DH.

Christian. You win the prize for common sense. Now, if only some MLB GM's and agents can borrow some of yours until this deal is done.

how could this guy ask for $40-60MM when he never even pitched in Mlb? No team should try to sign him.

Who really thinks this kid will get even 40 million, please the only way he gets that kind of dough is if he is a 21-year old left handed pedro martinez and thats even pushin it

its what people think he will ask for.. He wont get it. He'll sign, IMO, for about 30-40 M over 6 years(fixing the arb problem). Thats about 5-6.5M a year(average). Remember, this kid will need at LEAST 1.5 years in the minors. Making 5M+ in the minors is pretty good.

While I dont actually know the answer to the question scribble asked, my guess is it is 6 years of service and then they are a FA. Remember, he had to become a resident in a different country(andorra) before he came over, which is as-if he was a guy from France that wanted to play baseball in America. Its only different in Japan because there is an established professional league in Japan and teams are able to 'trade' players to American clubs for posting fees(aka, money). There is no professional league in Cuba or even Europe(correct me if Im wrong), so he's just a FA.

Is it just me, or does it seem really stupid Cuba didnt take his passport??? Everyone knew he'd leave when he could, but they basically told him it was OK.

If he wants up to $60mil to sign the Cardinals shouldn't even bother with the meeting tomorrow. Let someone else spend all that money on him.

Unless Chapman can be had for something a lot more reasonable (4/30) then I would prefer the Yanks to pass. I think the rotation has 3 solid starters in CC, AJ and Pettite and the back end can be adequately filled by Joba, Hughes, Wang, Gaudin or a solid free agent pickup like Sheets, Harden, etc. Either way the Yankees, nor any team for that matter, should look at Chapman as a mlb ready SP. I think it would be in everyone's best interest to start him off in AA/AAA for a full season. If he's light out then he can make a Aug/Sept callup out of the pen or get some starts if needed. No way should any team stick him in the rotation out the gate. If the Yanks make the move and sign him, then it should be with 2011 in mind.

Joba needs a full offseason to get himself together. He threw pretty well in terms of his velocity out the pen in the playoffs but that 97-100 mph fastball hasn;t returned and I'm not sure why. I really, really think it has something to do with possibly poor conditioning? Maybe the Yanks can talk Roger Clemens into creating some offseason work out routine minus the 'roids? I joke, but seriously, who better than Clemens or Nolan Ryan to be a guru for Joba?

Hughes just needs to be told what his role is for 2010 and needs to prepare himself to fill that role. I still would love to see him and Joba attacking hitters with great control and dominant stuff for years to come in the SP role.

The wild card players to me are Wang and Ben Sheets. If either of them is healthy for 2010 then I think the Yanks need to go after them, with Wang being more of a late season call up option.

Chapman seems like a good pick up if the price is right

I know it was reported a few weeks ago that the Dodgers are out of Chapman, but I wonder if they could get back in it. They were out of it because they were focused on Kuyicki(sp?), but now that he is gonna stay in Japan, I wonder if they use that money they'd potentially use on him and tey at Chapman..?

Pettitte pitches in a way that ages well. He never has thrown 98 consistenly, and instead relies on a good FB, but good secondary stuff to get guys out.. He could pitch to 40 and not lose too much...