Cincinnati Reds
Chapman officially a Red
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted January 10, 2010 7:55 PM ET
The Reds have signed 21-year old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, the star of the Cuban national team in the last World Baseball Classic, to a six-year contract through the 2015 season the team has announced.Chapman threw 100 m.p.h. in the WBC and 97 m.p.h. in a workout in Houston last month. While the contract is worth a guaranteed $30.25 million, spread out over 10 years, including a signing bonus of $16.25 million that will be paid over time. Chapman's agent, Randy Hendricks, said there are incentives for much more if Chapman reaches many benchmarks.
"This is a very significant deal for this organization," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "When you look at the size market we're in here in Cincinnati, we have to make some bold moves from time to time to try to improve this franchise and make it better. We felt this was a significant move and in the right direction to make it better."
The Reds have options on starters Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo after this season, which would take nearly $20 million off the payroll. Brandon Phillips is schedule to receive a $4.25 million pay bump in 2011.
Jocketty said he doesn't know yet where Chapman will start, but the team hopes he'll pitch in Cincinnati in 2010. Hendricks said one of the reasons Chapman chose the Reds was the ability to pitch in the big leagues soon. Chapman will be 22 on Feb. 28.
Chapman not only has the fastball, but also an outstanding slider, although his control has come into question. However, Reds scouts said they'd seen improvement in Chapman's mechanics and control from when he pitched in the World Baseball Classic and in his workout in Houston.
The Red Sox and Blue Jays had reportedly made offers to Chapman, who defected during a tournament in the Neatherlands in July. Hendricks said there were three teams in on Chapman in the end, including the A's.
With Chapman, called a "shorter Randy Johnson" by one baseball person, the Reds could have a stout young rotation, joining Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez and Homer Bailey, as well as prospects such as last year's first-round pick, Mike Leake, and lefty Travis Wood, MiLB.com's Class AA Pitcher of the Year.
"Chapman immediately becomes the Reds No. 1 prospect," Baseball America's J.J. Cooper said in an e-mail. "There may be some concerns about his command but he has a significantly higher ceiling than anyone else in the Reds farm system. If he develops, he could be a front-of-the-rotation starter, but he's not necessarily as big-league ready as some of the other Cuban defectors in recent years."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, News
Tags: Aroldis Chapman, Edinson Volquez, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Reds, Travis Wood
Comments (2)
Wow, that's a big signing.
Not just for the Reds, but I suspect also for you Trent because everyone is going to want to know how he gets on in Spring Training, which will be the first indication of whether he's ML ready or will be off to AA or AAA. It's hopefully going to be just the boost you need to get you over your target and on the way to Arizona!
Reply
70% of the goal with a month to go! I'd say you were right.
Good timing by the Reds too. Literally the day after the Bengals season ends, they sign one of the hottest commodities on the market. Welcome to Interest in Reds Baseball in 2010!
Reply