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

[lollipopcurve]

But he was pitching in the majors at 25, contributing. Not TOR, but his K numbers were very promising.

Chapman will be in the majors by April 2011 at the latest, from the sounds of things. More likely this year. Of course, we'll have to see how that goes....

And for my money, he's going to be a lot of fun to watch, no matter how polished he is. He's just one of those talents.

[George Anderson]

IN the presser, a question was asked about getting his family here. I saw in one of the stories that he has a child with his girlfriend. I would think that would be a big boost, if he could get his family here. Of course, that may be a tough road to hoe to get his family out of Cuba, if they would even want to. One thing I'll never get, a country that holds its people captive, that is, but that's a discussion for the Peanut Gallery.

I'm wondering if he could buy their way out of there.

Everything has a price ya know.

[bucksfan2]

I'm wondering if he could buy their way out of there.

Everything has a price ya know.

How? I am being honest, I have no idea how you get a person out of Cuba without hoping on a raft. Can they travel to the Dominican and then apply for political asylum?

I hope he doesn't start the season with the Reds. I would much rather see him get acclimated to the US before I throw him into the fire. With the exception of the WBC and pitching sessions before scouts there isn't a whole lot known about him baseball wise. I really think it will take several months to really get an understanding of where he is pitching wise.

[George Anderson]

How? I am being honest, I have no idea how you get a person out of Cuba without hoping on a raft. Can they travel to the Dominican and then apply for political asylum?

.

Pay off the Cuban government.

I have no idea, I'm just throwing the idea out there.

Bottom line is everything has a price.

[11larkin11]

One thing I'm actually excited about is that he DOESN'T know MLB players. Too many of our pitchers start to shake in their cleats when Pujols, Berkman, Lee, Aramis, Fielder, Braun and others come up to bat. It would be just like any other player to him.

[Guacarock]

Yahoo blogger suggests Reds want Baker to defect before bringing up Chapman to the majors.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb,212698

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by BCubb2003
I think it's interesting that Walt specifically mentions Harang and Arroyo. Makes it harder to turn around and get rid of them.

I still think Walt is going to retain one of Harang or Arroyo. I'm guessing Arroyo is extended. It really makes sense as long as Bronson is still producing. Bronson wants to play here, produces, and isn't out to get top FA money.
I know the "veteran influence" is not always considered valuable on this board, but Walt values it.

It just doesn't seem like Walt's MO to dump both Harang and Arroyo after this year. He's the type of guy that keeps the key veterans and adds to them.

I could see Harang possibly walking or getting traded, but my guess is that Arroyo stays around for a few more years. OTOH, if Harang has a strong year, the Reds may keep him too. So many clubs dump veteran talent at the trading deadline now that it's hard to get good value, IMO.

[TheNext44]

From Fay:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...tract-details/

The Associated Press is reporting the details of the Aroldis Chapman’s contract. It’s complicated:

–Chapman gets $1.5 million of his signing bonus when his contract is approved by Major League Baseball, $1.5 million each Nov. 1 from 2010 to 2013 and $1.25 million each Nov. 1 from 2014 to 2020.

–Chapman gets annual salaries of $1 million this year and next, $2 million each in 2012 and 2013 and $3 million in 2014. Within five days of the 2014 World Series, he must decide whether to exercise a $5 million player option for 2015.

–If Chapman is eligible for salary arbitration after the 2012 season, he would get $5 million converted to a bonus and become eligible for arbitration.

–If he is arbitration eligible after the 2013 season, he would get $3 million converted to a bonus and then be eligible for arbitration.

Hard to understand, but it looks like the Reds have around five million reasons to keep Chapman in AAA, at least for the first half of this season.

[Slyder]

From Fay:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...tract-details/



Hard to understand, but it looks like the Reds have around five million reasons to keep Chapman in AAA, at least for the first half of this season.

If he shows up and his play demands he be in the rotation thats fine by me. Pay him his 5 mil bonus and deal with arby. If he isnt ready send him to Louisville. Don't send him to Louisville to just to keep from him hitting arby sooner. Do whats best for the team not the payroll.

[Jpup]

If he shows up and his play demands he be in the rotation thats fine by me. Pay him his 5 mil bonus and deal with arby. If he isnt ready send him to Louisville. Don't send him to Louisville to just to keep from him hitting arby sooner. Do whats best for the team not the payroll.

this is the Reds.

[edabbs44]

So it's a 5 year deal?

[TheNext44]

So it's a 5 year deal?

With a player option. That makes it a 6 year deal for $30M since the only way he wouldn't pickup the option is if he thinks he can get more money as a free agent, meaning he'll get paid at least that. The key difference, is that the Reds may not be paying that last $5M.

[TheNext44]

If he shows up and his play demands he be in the rotation thats fine by me. Pay him his 5 mil bonus and deal with arby. If he isnt ready send him to Louisville. Don't send him to Louisville to just to keep from him hitting arby sooner. Do whats best for the team not the payroll.

I agree. Just stating the facts.

[Roy Tucker]

I can't remember a move the Reds have made that has given me more hope. It's really funny how that works.

[edabbs44]

With a player option. That makes it a 6 year deal for $30M since the only way he wouldn't pickup the option is if he thinks he can get more money as a free agent, meaning he'll get paid at least that. The key difference, is that the Reds may not be paying that last $5M.

From the Cincy standpoint it is a five year deal. Which makes the title and reports a little misleading. Those are usually described as a 5 year deal with a player option, not a 6 year deal.