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

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Originally Posted by Chip R

I can't remember, do they use aluminum bats in Cuba?

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I think they switched to wooden bats about 10 years ago.

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Originally Posted by Screwball

While making a big splash during the offseason isn't the custom, signing the uber-talented, high-priced youngsters out of Latin America is. Going from Duran to Yorman to Valor last year and to Chapman now, I think a clear pattern and plan has emerged: scout the (sugar) out of Latin America while forging positive relations with the buscones/players, and pony up the big money to sign the cream of the crop.

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Is this, dare I say it, the Reds' version of Moneyball?

Is this the biggest free agent acquisition (not the most expensive) in Reds history?

I'm pretty pumped, but I am wondering one thing. Several people here have said that he has TOR potential, but never before have I seen someone praised this much simply because he might potentially be good enough to pitch for the Blue Jays.

:confused:

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Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Is this the biggest free agent acquisition (not the most expensive) in Reds history?

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I don't know. Signing Damon Berryhill was huge after the '94 season.

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Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Is this the biggest free agent acquisition (not the most expensive) in Reds history?

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Dave Parker was a pretty big deal.

It's the biggest that I can think of.

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Originally Posted by Jpup

It's the biggest that I can think of.

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Now if the Reds could just sign some measurably improved offense, and get some run support for the pitching and defense the Reds will be all set in 2011 or 2012. Assuming that the young pitchers grow and develop to their potential, without any serious negatives along the way.

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Originally Posted by BRM

I don't know. Signing Damon Berryhill was huge after the '94 season.

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I remember the halcyon days of Damon Berryhill.

Just kidding....was was in an Icehouse fueled haze at WSU at the time and had drifted away from baseball.

Baseball America's J.J. Cooper on Chapman by way of C. Trent's blog:

* All the prospect lists are done, but I'd expect Chapman would be an easy No. 1 for the Reds. I e-mailed J.J. Cooper of Baseball America and asked him that question, and he said, "He's the No. 1 in their system. Now I'm not sure he's as big league ready as some reports have him, but it's an elite, elite arm and you can find scouts out there (although not nearly a consensus, many, many more scouts would say the opposite) who think he has better long-term potential than Strasburg. That being said, he has to prove he can refine his delivery and improve his command."

http://cnati.com/blogs/ctrent/

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Originally Posted by OldRightHander

I'm pretty pumped, but I am wondering one thing. Several people here have said that he has TOR potential, but never before have I seen someone praised this much simply because he might potentially be good enough to pitch for the Blue Jays.

:confused:

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TOR is an acronym for "Top Of Rotation," a #1 or #2 type.

I wonder if this is part of the reason the Reds took a signability guy like Leake last June instead of a higher priced guy. I wonder if they had that much forethought.

Anybody know where the noon press conference can ben heard/seen?

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Originally Posted by MikeS21

Anybody know where the noon press conference can ben heard/seen?

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Just guessing here, but the MLB Network may show it.

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Originally Posted by MikeS21

Anybody know where the noon press conference can ben heard/seen?

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I'm sure ESPN will be breaking into the 10th repeat of Sportscenter to cover it. ;)

Seriously, I would say the Reds web site will cover it and perhaps MLB network.