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

[dougdirt]

Irabu, Daisuke, Igawa...Daisuke has been pretty good when healthy, but not worth the money paid for him.

For his play alone, maybe not. But with someone like him you need to also factor in advertising gains made by having a Japanese superstar on your team.

[HeatherC1212]

Wow, this is really cool! He sounds like he has a ton of potential. What great news to randomly find out via Twitter this afternoon and I'm so glad I joined earlier this week, LOL

[Matt700wlw]

There's no ox after the Reds part? This is cool and stuff!

[OnBaseMachine]

One group of talent evaluators believes Chapman is an extraordinarily gifted pitcher, with the kind of skill set you see once in a generation. Some compare his arm to that of Randy Johnson, and they're in awe of what he could become. And while they acknowledge there are questions about his command and his maturity, some raise the R.J. comparison again. "Where was Randy Johnson when he was that age?" asked one scout rhetorically. "He is still a very young pitcher and he needs time."

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...3dolney_buster

[TheNext44]

He's a real Cuban, right? Not a Dominican passing for a Cuban?

A Cohiba Esplendido or a Montecristo #2 would be a nice way to celebrate this signing.

[flyer85]

extreme high risk ... i hope it is high reward.

[redsmetz]

One group of talent evaluators believes Chapman is an extraordinarily gifted pitcher, with the kind of skill set you see once in a generation. Some compare his arm to that of Randy Johnson, and they're in awe of what he could become. And while they acknowledge there are questions about his command and his maturity, some raise the R.J. comparison again. "Where was Randy Johnson when he was that age?" asked one scout rhetorically. "He is still a very young pitcher and he needs time."

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...3dolney_buster

At this age, Randy Johnson went 8-7 at Single A West Palm Beach for the Expos.

[westofyou]

So why did the Yankees or Redsox not jump at this player??

It's not like they don't have the dough.

They want instant payback on their player investments that are high dollar, their market demands it.

[BCubb2003]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...f=twitter_feed

Cuban left-handed pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman, one of the most coveted free-agents on this year's market, has agreed to a $30 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, sources confirmed to SI.com.
The deal was first reported by Yahoo, and is said to be for five years.
Cincinnati was a quiet but consistent contender for the 22-year-old, whose 102-mile-per-hour fastball drew significant interest from the likes of the Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals.

[TheNext44]

The key to this is not how Chapman does, but that the Reds keep making moves like this one. Smart ones that have some risk, but also have a good chance of providing surplus value.

If you make enough of them, over time it will pay off in a big way. That is how you build a championship team. Many smart, calculated risks.

[flyer85]

Does this kid instantly make the 5 man rotation?

can't see how, there is no evidence he is up to a major league starter workload. If they are paying him that much I would like to see him in the major league bullpen and build up his stamina there. Just don't overwork him and get him him hurt

[steig]

I would have to believe that he will have a real shot as making the rotation in spring training. He may be young but I don't think the deal would only be for 5 years if the Reds didn't think they could get production out of him now. Would a small market team really pay a player 6 million to pitch in the minors, especially when he pitched so well in the World Baseball classic last year.

[Falls City Beer]

extreme high risk ... i hope it is high reward.

Beats shelling out 120 million to a guy in his 30s with leg problems. The Reds have to take risks like this in the starting pitching realm. It's about their only in. For the Reds ever to be relevant again they have to take big time risks with young starters/drafts.

[traderumor]

How does this type of signing affect the roster? Is he immediately on the 40 man roster?

[OnBaseMachine]

Update on Chapman
Posted by jfay January 10th, 2010, 4:27 pm

I still haven’t heard back from Walt Jocketty. But an announcement about the Reds signing Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman could come as soon as today.

A source high in the organization said the deal is close to being signed and could be as long as 10 years. Yahoo.com is reporting it’s for five years and $30 million.

What’s gotten into the Reds? The other day Jocketty told me that the club had talked to Jerry Hairston Jr.’s agent. But a deal was unlikely because Hairston had priced himself out of the club range.

I can’t imagine Hairston asking for more than $3 million. How could the Reds give 10 times that much to a prospect?

The money Chapman gets will be spread over a long period of time. Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang are in the last years of their contract. That opens up $23.5 million in 20111. The club also has show a willingness to spend on young Latin American talent in recent years. Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran signed in 2008 for $2.5 and $2 million, respectively, in 2008.

This is a great deal more money. But Chapman, who throws close to 100, is a lot closer to the big leagues. A rotation with Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey and Chapman could return the franchise to its successful past.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/