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« Cubs, Jays Talking Bradley For Wells? | Main | Odds & Ends: Gaston, Cardinals, Rays »
The Orioles And Aroldis Chapman
Free agent left-hander Aroldis Chapman is quickly racking up face time with MLB clubs, meeting with several different teams in the past few days and drumming up interest all over the league. On Friday, he chatted with Orioles international scouting director John Stockstill in New York about the possibility of beginning his professional career in Baltimore.
Are the Orioles to be taken seriously as possible suitors for Chapman? It depends on who you ask. Stockstill said Friday, after his meeting in NYC with the highly touted 21-year-old, that there is some mutual interest. "He's willing and interested to come and visit Baltimore," Stockstill said, while also telling MASN's Roch Kubatko, "I think we have an offer in mind."
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the club is truly prepared to buck up, especially if the price is in the $40-$60MM range. As Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun points out, the O's passed on Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano earlier this month, and he signed with the Twins for only $3.15MM. "If they would balk at Sano at that price," Schmuck writes, "what makes anybody think they'll be a real player at $40 million for Chapman?"
"I'm sure a lot of people would like to see the Orioles boldly go where they haven't gone before and pony up the big money it will take to sign Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman," Schmuck continues, "but I wouldn't hold your breath."
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It must suck being an Orioles fan, knowing you have no chance at the playoffs for a good 15 years.
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Eh, if he's interested in Baltimore then I wouldn't completely count them out of the picture. But if Chapman is going to take the highest bidder, I'd be shocked if the O's are the highest bid.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | October 31, 2009 at 02:09 PM
I would actually say the Orioles could be contenders in 2-3 years. They've really improved their farm system and their core is pretty good as well, filled with younger players.
If they're pitching can develop (which is certainly a possibility with Bergensen, Matsuz and Tillman) then I think this team could be pretty good in a few years.
Posted by: R y a n | October 31, 2009 at 02:15 PM
And just what team are you a fan of? My guess is Yankees, because you're both arrogant AND stupid. Think back to September 12, and expect more of the same for several years. Several well-respected baseball writers have said that O's pitching prospect Brandon Erbe, currently at AA, would be the best pitching prospect in practically every other organization. In ours, he's *4th*. The cavalry is coming, Yankees fans. It's going to run right over you, and all the money in the world isn't going to stop your players from getting old. Past history shows us that players don't want to play for the Yankees when they aren't winning, because the media and fan pressure is so ridiculous to win every single game every single year. I look forward to the days when the Evil Empire is merely an angry pocket of resistance.
Oh, if you're not a Yankees fan, then it must suck to be a fan of your team, because your team is playing golf, too.
Posted by: mstrchef13 | October 31, 2009 at 02:16 PM
It must suck being an Orioles fan, knowing you have no chance at the playoffs for a good 15 years.
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 01:48 PM
I'm not an O's fan, but I feel bad that they have to play in the same division as the "Reichs" of Boston and New York. They have a nice crop of young talent and pitching help is on the way, I could see them making a run like the Rays in 2011 or 2012. However, they shouldn't spend 40-60 million on a pitcher who just looks like a top 50 prospect at the moment.
Posted by: Alex Trebek | October 31, 2009 at 02:19 PM
This is actually the kind of signing that would make sense for Baltimore. Stop trying to get in on players like Tex (last year) and focus on spending for very young talent that can seriously help in 2-3 years.
That said, $40m is too much for anyone to spend on this guy. Assuming his throwing sessions go well and he can be had for $15-20m then a team like Baltimore makes perfect sense for him.
Posted by: bjsguess | October 31, 2009 at 02:21 PM
I think adding Chapman would be a fine idea if he didn't cost so much for the beginning of his career. He needs to find his command on the off speed stuff...his first year's a guess as to how he'll do. Going after fellow free agent Cuban Yadel Marti (who didn't allow a run in the '06 WBC) and has pin point control of some wicked off speed arsenal. Marti would cost a whole lot less. If it's a six year contract, then maybe it works out with Chapman...but if we're dealing with three years for 40 MM or more vs. Marti who you could get for 5 MM a year and is older and tested....
Posted by: HeadFirstSlide | October 31, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Why all the hate? The Yanks were in 3rd place last year and TAMPA BAY won the division. It's possible for these other franchises to field playoff-worthy teams. We're not the only opponent they're up against.
Posted by: BomberMan26 | October 31, 2009 at 02:42 PM
The Orioles outfield is going to be running circles around the Yanks outfield in the next few years. Jones and Markakis look like perennial allstars, combine them with Weiters and a bunch of their young pitchers, they will be very good in a few years.
Posted by: Casanova Wong | October 31, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Past history also shows us that pitching prospects often fizzle. I'd rather have CC Sabathia than a couple guys who might be good in a couple years.
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Get your crazy bias outta here dude.
Posted by: R y a n | October 31, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Past history also shows us that pitching prospects often fizzle. I'd rather have CC Sabathia than a couple guys who might be good in a couple years.
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 03:04 PM
I'd rather have enough money to seize the best starting pitching from other teams too, but sadly it's not in the cards for most teams.
Posted by: Alex Trebek | October 31, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Alex, you forgot to mention the best position player free agent and the 2nd best pitching FA too. Hooray!
Posted by: fitz | October 31, 2009 at 03:45 PM
Know ID yuh: I'd rather have CC Sabathia than a couple guys who might be good in a couple years.
StandByMe: I would actually say the Orioles could be contenders in 2-3 years.
Which "bias" is more crazy?
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Which "bias" is more crazy?
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 03:54 PM
----------------
Since most baseball observers (read: non-Yankee fans) would agree with StandByMe, then yours is more crazy. Isn't CC the one who demanded an out clause because he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay in NY after a few years?
Posted by: mstrchef13 | October 31, 2009 at 04:22 PM
"Know ID yuh: I'd rather have CC Sabathia than a couple guys who might be good in a couple years.
StandByMe: I would actually say the Orioles could be contenders in 2-3 years.
Which "bias" is more crazy?
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 03:54 PM"
Obviously you know very little about baseball if you think the Orioles won't contend for 15, even 10 years.
And your entire argument is thrown out the door, because I am a Yankee fan. A realistic one, unlike yourself.
Posted by: R y a n | October 31, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Except mine is not a bias. Having good players now is better than having players who might be good in a couple years. Any rational baseball observer (read: non-Oriole fans) would agree.
I'll tell you what. You get to pick one of the following options for your team next season.
1. 102 wins and a playoff appearance.
2. 63 wins, but you might win 90 in three years.
Which one do you choose?
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 04:51 PM
I am not saying the Orioles are going to be better than the Yankees in 3 years. I am saying your post was idiotic. To say the Orioles won't be in the playoffs until 15 years from now is flat out stupid. They've got an excellent core and are not the same Orioles of 3 or 4 seasons ago, when they would try to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees by signing overrated, aging free agents.
Posted by: R y a n | October 31, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Show me someone who thinks their opinion is unbiased and I'll show you a liar.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | October 31, 2009 at 04:53 PM
However, they shouldn't spend 40-60 million on a pitcher who just looks like a top 50 prospect at the moment.
He is projected to be a top 3-5 prospect
Posted by: A. Ryan | October 31, 2009 at 05:13 PM
"Alex, you forgot to mention the best position player free agent and the 2nd best pitching FA too. Hooray!"
AJ Burnett wasn't the second-best pitcher on the free agent market. He just got paid like he was. That was a terrible, terrible signing for the Yankees and I can't wait to watch it bite them for years to come.
Five years and $82.5MM to a 32-year-old pitcher with a massive injury history who managed a 4.04 ERA (4.33 FIP, 4.50 xFIP), 1.40 WHIP, and walked 4.2/9 in the first season of his Yankee tenure. Enjoy that one Yankee fans. Burnett's contract will be among the worst in the game in no time. In my opinion, it already has been since the day he signed it.
Posted by: MorneauVP | October 31, 2009 at 06:21 PM
That is kind of ironic...I was just saying the other day Chapman scares me a bit and I could see him being a left handed Daniel Cabrera...tall guys with great velocity, issues repeating mechanics as Chapman as issues there as well, control problems as Chapman has below avg control and he also has a slider that can be plus at times but is inconsistent at best as Cabrera does.
Posted by: Jared78 | October 31, 2009 at 06:36 PM
I don't think the comparison to Cabrera is fair. IIRC, Cabrera never picked up a baseball until he was 14. He never learned how to pitch. He grew up as a basketball player, until some buscone convinced him he could make a lot of money playing baseball. Chapman, I'm assuming, has been playing baseball all his life. I'd compare Chapman to Randy Johnson before I compared him to Cabrera. Would I pay $40MM for a 21 year old Randy Johnson? No, because Johnson didn't become a useful major league pitcher until he was 26 and wasn't a good one for another three years after that.
Posted by: mstrchef13 | October 31, 2009 at 09:18 PM
So you would do what the Yankees do, and pay him when he is good.
Posted by: Know ID yuh | October 31, 2009 at 10:16 PM
AJ Burnett wasn't the second-best pitcher on the free agent market. He just got paid like he was. That was a terrible, terrible signing for the Yankees and I can't wait to watch it bite them for years to come.
Five years and $82.5MM to a 32-year-old pitcher with a massive injury history who managed a 4.04 ERA (4.33 FIP, 4.50 xFIP), 1.40 WHIP, and walked 4.2/9 in the first season of his Yankee tenure. Enjoy that one Yankee fans. Burnett's contract will be among the worst in the game in no time. In my opinion, it already has been since the day he signed it.
Posted by: MorneauVP
When Burnett finds control of the strike zone he is one of the hardest pitchers to hit in the league especially when he gets his curveball going and the other times he also manages to pitch tough baseball that is towards a quality start or better hes a sold 1A to Sabathia proven in game 2 of the world series coming through in the clutch in a decisive game for the yankees, so while you salivate over nick blackburn scott baker and carl pavano you'll see who has the better starting rotation
Posted by: nyankss27 | October 31, 2009 at 10:54 PM