Aroldis Chapman establishes residency

by Travis G on Sep 21, 2009 2:11 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

The Cuban left-hander equipped with a 102 mph fastball established residency last week in Andorra...

Chapman's Andorran residency clears the first and most difficult of the three major hurdles to becoming a major league free agent. Because Chapman had his passport -- an almost unheard of occurrence for a Cuban defector -- establishing residency took a fraction of the time needed for most defectors and may make him available for free agency before the playoffs begin [emphasis my own], his agents say...

Chapman's career record is 24-21 and he twice led the Serie Nacional, Cuba's professional league, in strikeouts. Despite the mediocre record, the money Chapman will command is expected to exceed the $32 million signing bonus the New York Yankees paid Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras, who was 31 when he joined the Yankees in 2002.

With many of the Yanks top minor league pitchers suffering from current and past injuries (Betances, Garcia, Kennedy, Vizcaino, Brackman), it would be nice to get an ultra high-ceiling prospect to make up for some of the losses and setbacks (via BTTF).

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Forget the losses and setbacks

They’re part of the game. That’s why you draft so many quality arms.

It would be great to add another quality arm. And it’s only Kei Igawa money.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Sep 21, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

"only Kei Igawa money"

i just threw up a little in my mouth.

by NumberSeven on Sep 21, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Mission accomplished.
These international free agents are gambles. Dice-K has been better than Igawa, but is he a $100M pitcher? Contreras a bust with the Yanks, but the ChiSox rode his one good year to a title.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Sep 21, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Whatever it takes

Throw Dice K money at him. Just don’t let the Sox get him

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby

by sdhman11 on Sep 21, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

From what I hear

Chapman is a big project and his secondary stuff is very underdeveloped. He also does not “look” his age if you know what I mean.

by Buzzy on Sep 21, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

Cut em open... count teh rings.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Sep 21, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Funny.

Guys like this sure are attractive-they have great pure stuff. Chapman has a lot of break on his breaking stuff, but his control (even on the hard stuff) is poor. His results have gotten worse each of the last 2 years in the Cuban league. Not sure what that means. Some team(s) will throw a lot of money at him, and it will be high risk, potentially high reward. Will be very interesting.

by Buzzy on Sep 21, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Word, alot more info is needed abt the Cuban leages.

Do they have full time pitching coaches, conditioning programs etc? Does he throw bullpen session between starts or does he just show up and wing it every 5 days? If teams find out that he’s just been getting by on his physical talents alone without any coaching or working out or anything I believe they’ll be more apt to drop the loot. Basically the further away from his ceiling he is the more money they’ll spend. He’d be more of a blank canvas to work with than if he is already reaching his ceiling.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Sep 21, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

we know that some good pitchers have come from Cuba, including the Hernandez brothers, and Contreras (not worth the money of course, but a career 4.36 FIP for a guy past his prime is not so bad). I don’t really know, but I think the league is reasonably advanced. Perhaps not up to the level of Japan, but not so so far behind (just a guess).

by Buzzy on Sep 21, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

On the point of japan

If we’re gonna throw money for a young pitcher Why not throw it in the way fo Yu Darvish form japan. From the reports i heard he’s 23 and is a plus plus pitcher. Ppl thought Dice-K looked good in Japanese leagues well apparently this guy makes Dice-K look like a little bitch. Past 3 years the guy posted up ERA’s of 1.82, 1.88 and 1.30.

by lololol on Sep 21, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions