Aroldis Chapman to Reds

[Clem Fandango]

I can tell you you're likely to get a heck of a lot more value out of signing 30 $1M players out of latin america than spending $30M on Chapman.

 

In fairness, how many of those $1m players are likely to become as good as Chapman currently is? How many of them would have a ceiling comparable to Chapman?

which would you take...Chapman at $30M or the top 15 or so dominican signees this year (I'm guessing all those guys together would add up to around a $30M investment)? This is a huge no-brainer for me. First, you spread the injury risk. Second, in a year from now, you could very well believe that a couple of those guys could have the same ceiling as Chapman.

 

To me, if you're going to invest that kind of coin in a single prospect, he'd better be unbelievably, unquestionably the best-est, super-est, can't miss prospect there ever was. I don't see Chapman being in that stratosphere or even remotely close to it.

 

Also to give it some perspective Stephen Strasburg who is one of the most, if not THE most, highly touted can't miss prospect of the last decade or so signed for less than Aroldis Chapman, signing bonus included. I like Chapman but him getting paid more than Strasburg is ridiculous. Strasburg is younger than Chapman, can throw as fast if not faster than Chapman, and has shown that he has more than one great pitch. Chapman is a lefty who can throw 100mph but, from what I've read IIRC, can't spot it consistently and also doesn't have a good 2nd pitch and needs to develop one in the minors. Meanwhile Strasburg could slide right into the #1 slot in Washington's rotation this season.

 

I like Chapman, don't get me wrong, but I'm shocked that so many teams were willing to go so high for him, and that he actually got as much as he got

Totally different situations. Had Chapman been selected in the amateur draft, and had his rights controlled by one club, he wouldn't have gotten nearly as much as Strasburg.

 

True, but it's still ridiculous

[Shilzzz]

anyone make the Cuban/Reds joke in this thread yet?

[Outshined_One]

which would you take...Chapman at $30M or the top 15 or so dominican signees this year (I'm guessing all those guys together would add up to around a $30M investment)? This is a huge no-brainer for me. First, you spread the injury risk. Second, in a year from now, you could very well believe that a couple of those guys could have the same ceiling as Chapman.

 

To me, if you're going to invest that kind of coin in a single prospect, he'd better be unbelievably, unquestionably the best-est, super-est, can't miss prospect there ever was. I don't see Chapman being in that stratosphere or even remotely close to it.

 

That all depends on what my scouts tell me. There are a number of people who think he is one of the best pitchers in the world and has the potential to be a legitimate ace. $30m is not a bad price to pay if your scouts, coaches, developmental personnel, and the like are all convinced of this.

 

As things stand right now, yes, I would rather spend that money through other international signings and the draft.

[USSoccer]

A hilarious misuse of scarce budgetary resources by the Reds.

[davearm2]

This dude seems vaguely like a lefthanded Samardzija -- big fastball, raw, questionable secondary pitches, possible mechanics and/or control issues, limited amateur track record.

 

I guess nobody was speculating about Samardzija being potentially amongst the world's best pitchers, although some experts projected him as a first-round talent.

[TheVolCub08]

The only scouting report I've really read on him (by a site that ranks him the 10th best prospect in baseball):

 

A whisper-thin lefthander with a whiplike delivery that can touch 100mph, Cuban Aroldis Chapman is one of the highest-ceiling lefties in baseball today. A free agent after he defected in Andorra in September 2009, Chapman will command a serious signing bonus that should dwarf that of the last big-name Cubano to jump to MLB: the crafty Jose Contreras. Chapman went 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 2008 and 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 2009 as a starter in Cuba's National League, after working as Holguin's closer the year before. He finished second in the vote for the league's best lefthanded pitcher in 2009.

 

With a reputation as a thrower rather than a pitcher and some questions about his makeup and work ethic, Chapman's future may hinge on whether he signs with a team that can corral and develop his personality and sharpen his talent. Despite the high heat, he looked very hittable in the WBC and other recent international tournaments, where he had little success as a starter. Some wonder whether his pitching style could wither when faced with more patient and less free-swinging adversaries, or whether a home might be easier to find in an MLB bullpen.

 

But 100mph lefthanders are worth some risk, so expect to see his name on a very large contract this winter. Until he gets a full season of minor league ball under his belt, though, nobody will really know what they're looking at.

 

Does not sound like a $30 million gamble I would ever want to see the Cubs take.

[biittner77]

Dusty strikes again

 

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/dusty_baker_destroys

[wvcbxl]

Dusty strikes again

 

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/dusty_baker_destroys

 

:-)) :-)) :-))

Vintage onion.