Update on Chapman, Jesus

by Travis G on Jul 3, 2009 1:28 AM EDT in Minors

So Aroldis Chapman has indeed defected (while in Europe with the Cuban national team). ESPN thinks he'll be with a ML organization by next year, and has a quote from Yankee senior VP Mark Newman saying that Chapman will draw interest from the Yanks. Preliminary assumptions put Chapman's initial contract between $30 and $60 million! Jose Contreras got $32 million for four years, but was considerably older. (h/t to BPro)

- Praise Jesus! 2-5 with another homer (that's four straight games).

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WHOA!

30-$60 million? for this guy?

THey better at least get a good look before that cuz that’ a lot of dough.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 3, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

and you realize how upsetting

it must be for US amateurs to watch a guy the same age get ridiculous $$$, when Strasburg could probably get similar money if he became a FA.

by Travis G on Jul 3, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Every time you

write “Praise Jesus” I think you’re talking about Johnny Damon.

Montero’s been RAKING in AA. This guy’s bat is gonna force him up to the league sooner rather than later. I don;t even think Posada was that Beast in the minors.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 3, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Posada never

slugged more than .472 in the minors. Montero’s career SLG is .508! (and he’s only 19).

by Travis G on Jul 3, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Montero's

Bat is closer to Pujolesque than Posada. Of course his catching ability is closer to the fat kid from the Bad News Bears than it is to Jorge so I sure do hope the Yanks rethink his defensive position. As for Chapman, well if the Yankees sign him they would have to rejigger their rotation, could possibly mean trading Hughes or Wang.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jul 3, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Montero is hitting better

than Hanley or Miguel did at the same ages (and in lower levels)! we have to realize Jesus will (probably) regress a bit at some point, but he’s still showing an incredible bat. top 10 hitting prospect in MLB.

i’d expect Chapman to begin in the minors (unless he negotiates a ML deal), bc of his control problems.

by Travis G on Jul 3, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

2 Points

First of all I really hope the Yankees sit this one out. Chapman has never proven anything other than a supposed 100 mph fastball. That’s great and all but Jose Contreras was alleged to throw 98 while in Cuba and he never came anywhere close to that in the majors. The problem with giving a guy like this a ton of money is it means he automatically gets a shot over other possibly more deserving prospects.

Also it’s ridiculously unfair that a guy like Chapman can sign with whoever he wants while Stephen Strasburg can only negotiate with the Nationals. I understand the necessity of a draft but the draft needs to be made worldwide as in the NBA, so that American players aren’t punished for being born in the US. It’s ridiculous that if Bryce Harper had been born in the Dominican Republic, he could be signed already, with whoever he wanted for however much he wanted.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jul 3, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

+1 totally agree

only in MLB would we give a player LESS opportunity if he is American. As far as this is concerned, I’m a fan of free market capitalism. Let the teams sign anybody they want regardless of age or nationality, and the system will work itself out.

by Lord Duggan on Jul 3, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions