Jeff Passan: Reds sign Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman to six-year deal (Financials TBD)

[OnBaseMachine]

This deserves a thread of its own!

Non-stop Delta flight left FLL for Cincinnati at 9:20 this morning. Another source said $30 million deal is for five years.

2 minutes ago from web Narrowed it down: It's an NL Central team. Cincinnati making more and more sense. Reds "going after him like crazy," team source said.

4 minutes ago from web Cuban LHP Aroldis Chapman agrees to $30M deal with National League team, according to source. Left Ft. Lauderdale airport this a.m. to sign.

http://twitter.com/jeffpassan

Edit - Chapman signed for five years, $25 million with a player option for the sixth year.

[reds44]

Oh. My. God.

[Rounding Third]

Oh. My. God.

[TheNext44]

If this is true, does this mean that Harang or Arroyo will be traded? Jocketty did say that the team was at payroll limit. Unless the deal is backloaded, I don't see how Reds can afford all three.

[Superdude]

YEA! i forgive Walt for everything

[OnBaseMachine]

I'm trying to withhold my enthusiasm until the Reds confirm it. This almost sounds too good to be true. The Reds never do anything like this.

[dougdirt]

I'm trying to withhold my enthusiasm until the Reds confirm it. This almost sounds too good to be true. The Reds never do anything like this.

Never say never. The biggest name in the game came to Cincinnati 10 year s ago.

[reds44]

If this is true, does this mean that Harang or Arroyo will be traded? Jocketty did say that the team was at payroll limit. Unless the deal is backloaded, I don't see how Reds can afford all three.

I'd try to deal one of them for a young SS.

Cueto, Chapman, Volquez, and Bailey will be here for a long time.
Then you have Bruce and Votto on offense. If you can get a SS to build with for the future then you might have something.

[Caseyfan21]

I haven't followed this kid much (or the story) but if I remember reading a story about him earlier this winter...isn't he still pretty raw? Are we expecting him to slot right into the rotation right away or will he start at AA/AAA? I figure others here have followed this much more closer.

[OnBaseMachine]

I'm so nervous right now. I want this to be true.

[TheNext44]

I haven't followed this kid much (or the story) but if I remember reading a story about him earlier this winter...isn't he still pretty raw? Are we expecting him to slot right into the rotation right away or will he start at AA/AAA? I figure others here have followed this much more closer.

You gave a pretty good summary of his scouting report. He has great stuff, but average to below average control. He also throws his off speed stuff from a different arm slot than his fastball, making it easy to pick up, and could use a third pitch. But he's a lefty that can hit the high 90's and sits at around 93-95 MPH. TOR stuff, but not there yet.

If the Reds do sign him, I imagine he competes for the 5th spot in the rotation, and goes down to AAA if he doesn't win it.

[Superdude]

I'm so nervous right now. I want this to be true.

seriously! They need to just announce this so I can stop sitting here jabbing the refresh button.

[REDblooded]

Just got an IM from one of my friends about this... He's connected to a lot of sports writers, and has some inside sources in the Cardinals front office...

IM'd me and said it looks like Chapman to the Reds... Also, supposedly Chapman flew out this morning and the only flight this morning from Ft. Lauderdale to an NL city was a direct flight to Cincinnati on Delta...

[OnBaseMachine]

From MLB.com's Joe Frisaro:

#Marlins Marlins are definitely not team on Chapman. Hearing it's the Reds.

http://twitter.com/JoeFrisaro/status/7600967768

[RedsManRick]

Pretty simple pitch: Hey, you like wearing a red cap with a 'c' on it, right?

From what I've read about him, he sounds a bit like Oliver Perez.