Free agent left-hander Aroldis Chapman is seeking a six-year contract, he tells ESPN’s Marly Rivera. In speaking with Rivera, the flamethrowing southpaw also dispelled any notion that he has ever demanded a $100MM figure when speaking to another club. Said Chapman:
“The only thing I have expressed is that I would like a six-year contract. I know that doesn’t mean that I will get it, but that’s what I would like to sign. There are rumors out there that I requested $100 million and that’s not true at all. I believe he who deserves something, does not need to demand it.”
Earlier today, right-hander Mark Melancon shattered Jonathan Papelbon’s previous record reliever contract ($50MM) when he reportedly agreed to a four-year, $62MM deal with the Giants. Chapman and fellow free agent Kenley Jansen are both widely expected to clear the Melancon figure by an even larger margin than Melancon cleared Papelbon, however. A six-year deal for Chapman doesn’t necessarily seem likely, but given widespread expectations that he’ll land a five-year deal, the possibility of a team going to six years is present. If Chapman does get to six years, one would have to imagine that he’ll top $100MM as well.
There are other factors to consider, though. One element that could impact the overall value of a deal would be an opt-out clause, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that some officials that have been involved in talks with both Chapman and Jansen believe they’ll seek such a provision in their deal. Opt-out clauses typically require some concession in terms of the overall value of a contract, so it’s possible that Chapman could pursue a deal that’ll allow him to re-enter the market after two or three years. And considering the fact that he’ll pitch all of next season at 29, he could seek such a clause and still hit the open market for a second time at a young enough age to cash in on an even larger commitment.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald have both written about Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria’s affinity for Chapman today, and the Yankees are also a team that has been oft-inked to Chapman. ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers reported today that there’s been “no momentum” toward a long-term deal between the Cubs and Chapman, further suggesting that Chicago won’t make a significant play to re-sign Chapman after surrendering with a large amount of young talent to acquire him prior to the non-waiver trade deadline back in July.
Might want to be more specific there, Aroldis. Six years @ $10m per. Done and done.
Thinking more 5 at 18-20mil since melancon just got over 15 per year
5 years 85 million with an option.
this seems most likely to be as well!
I think he gets 6/100M from the Marlins or Yankees
There’s no reason the Marlins would even be interested. They are terrible. With exception of Stanton they have no hitting. No pitching. Marlins would overpay for him just to trade him in 2 years when it didn’t work out
ummm…. do you know who Christian Yelich is? Martin Prado? Justin Bour. Marcel Ozuna. JT Realmuto?
Marlins aren’t interested?? Do you even read the articles on this site?
Lol
Yankees I think. Cubs won’t do it. Marlins too cheap. SAN Fran out. Nationals may not Due to trying to get McCuthon and Sale with high contracts. Leaves Dodgers maybe
Marlins have Yelich, Stanton, Ozuna, Prado, Gordon and Realmuto around the diamond: they all are All-Star level players. They have Bour, who will give you 20-25 hrs annually. And Hech who is one of the better defensive SS in baseball. I would say that’s a pretty solid position player core, if healthy.
Me to
I agree
He won’t get 6 years guaranteed. He’ll get 4 maybe 5 years. 85-90mil.
“I believe he who deserves something, does not need to demand it.”
So he’s basically saying “I’m not demanding $100mil, but that’s what I am getting.”
That’s how I read it too
60 mil for 3 years would be smart
He’s dreaming if he thinks a GM is going to give a reliever 6 years. I wouldn’t even want a starter on a 6 year deal. 5 years tops, but 4 is more realistic
Melancon got 15.5 annually over 4 years regardless of the fact that he’s going to be 32.. Meaning the contract runs through his age 35 season. Chapman’s gonna be 29. I think he definitely gets a sixth year around 17-18 mil annually, which would run through his age 34 season… so I think it ends up being 6 years, 100 million with an opt-out after 2 seasons so he can re-enter the market at 30 years old if he chooses..
yeah except I think the thing to remember is that melancon at his age has been working with command and a groundball rate that can deal with declined velocity whereas if chapman loses 5 – 7 mph on his fastball over 6 years he will ultimately be very hittable… which is why of the 2 left jansen may ultimately be a better target for teams.
But there’s no proof he’ll lose velocity, especially throwing an inning at a time. Nolan Ryan was still in the upper 90s at age 42, and he was a starter
103 MPH is great, but for somebody who can’t throw strikes after the 18th pitch, that’s a lot of cash.
Good luck with that!
Hopefully, the Cubs will pass. I like Ken Jansen better anyway, although I doubt the Cubs go there either.
6 yrs – $100mm as follows:
3 yrs @ $19mm each; opt out after year 3; if not, 3 more years at $15.3/$14.3/$13.3mm (bringing it up to $100mm.
With one catch: the team can cancel the contract if he gets convicted of domestic violence-related acts.
Players union won’t let this happen. Can’t cancel a contract for conduct.
There is a morals clause standard in contracts but it’s never enforced. The Rockies tried years ago when Denny Neagle got busted with a prostitute but they couldn’t cancel the contract. Only way I’m assuming is if the guy actually ended up in prison.
I like the the structure of this deal looks good with the ppt out just erase all that domestic violence stuff
I like where you’re going with the structure – although you’re more likely to see the deal backloaded than frontloaded.
Also, as mentioned above, the MLBPA will never allow a clause that gives a team an out base don conduct. Or an out at all, really. Guaranteed contracts are one of the last things the MLBPA are holding onto – kinda like debris after a maritime disaster.
I wouldn’t even go 5. The Yankees could spend that money on more important players in the next 2 years.
Anyone gives him more than three years is crazy,
Yah, 3 years $60 mil would be “smart,” which is why it won’t even be close to happening. Top players on the free agent market don’t get signed to “smart” contracts, they get signed to ridiculous contracts, like Chapman will.