Aroldis Chapman: The Reds Future?

By Mike Carlucci in Featured, Red Sox ⋅ January 19, 2010 at 6:09am ⋅ Post a comment

Aroldis Chapman Makes His Pitch (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The saga of Aroldis Chapman came to an end when the Cincinnati Reds signed the defected Cuban pitcher last week. The 22-year-old left-hander, whose fastball that has been clocked as high as 102 MPH, emerged onto the world scene during the 2009 World Baseball Classic while pitching for the Cuban team. Under contract for six years and $30.25 million, the Reds have obtained one of the best young up-and-coming starters in the world.

Who Was In?

While the Red Sox were one of the first teams to get in on the bidding, offering $15.5 million, the Angels and Blue Jays were considered the front-runners as Chapman neared the end of his search for a team. His ties to Angels first baseman and fellow Cuban, Kendry Morales, were thought to be enough to make the team a favorable landing spot. Similarly, Red Sox shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias was believed to be a factor in Boston’s favor.

The Cuban population of Miami was thought to entice him to join the Marlins. Via twitter, Joe Frisaro, the MLB.com reporter covering the Florida Marlins, reported that the team was willing to go as high as $20 million but that $30 was too high for a pitcher with “with a 5 ERA in Cuba.” The Blue Jays, having traded Roy Halliday, clearly could have used a win this offseason and acquiring a young, left-handed flamethrower would have gone a long way to show their commitment to the rebuilding process.

He’s the Next…

A lot of attention has been on the world market recently, as the young stars living abroad are not subject to the draft and usually their decision to play in America brings out a who’s who of large market teams tempting these prospects with money and fame. The last highly touted pitcher out of Cuba, Jose Contreras, won in a bidding war by the Yankees, never had the success he as expected to, though he did have some moments of solid performance (2003 – 3.30 ERA in 71 innings; 2005 – 3.61 ERA in 204.2 innings) until hitting a run of injuries (next lowest ERA was 4.27 in 196 innings in 2006).

In 2007 we saw the two big Japanese signings by the Red Sox and Yankees of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kei Igawa, respectively. Signed to a $52 million six-year deal and a $20 million five-year deal, the two starters have seen their ups and downs. While Matsuzaka racked up the wins over his first three years (15 in 2007, 18 in 2008), alternating between dominating lineups and tossing 100 pitches in five inning stints, Igawa was sent to the minors in July 2007, pitched just four innings for the Yankees in 2008 and threw zero major league innings in 2009.

Reds Nation

As a National League Central team with some strong young players – pitchers Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez and Homer Bailey; second baseman Brandon Phillips, first baseman Joey Votto and outfielders Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs, the Reds could be primed for a breakout should their youth, including Chapman, continue to develop and improve. The hard throwing lefty could carry this team for years to come or at worst is controlled for six years at a price that today buys only the most mediocre or aging pitchers.

About Mike Carlucci - My Twitter

Mike Carlucci writes about the Red Sox, baseball, and technology. He is currently a law student at Suffolk University and an enjoyer of palindromes and espresso.

Tags: Ardolis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds, Red Sox