Chapman Defects
by Birdfan01 on Jul 2, 2009 1:23 AM EDT
14 comments
Ardolis Chapman, a 21 year-old Cuban lefty, recently defected from Cuba and reportedly wants to sign with a major league team. Many of you will remember Chapman from the WBC, where he showcased an upper 90s FB. How much do you guys think he is worth, who will he go to, and is he major league ready? Very interesting development. My initial guess is that he goes to the White Sox. The Sox have been looking for SP help, and they have been very active signing recent Cuban defectors Dyan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez.
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Cuban defectors.
First, I’d question his age automatically.
Second, just about any club could use him. I’m sure his agent, whomever that is, will want top dollar for their client, but I seriously doubt that he’s going to get a major league contract. Anybody who does sign him will want to put him down in at least the AAA team for the time being to make sure he can actually pitch.
As for where he ends up, who knows. There isn’t a single team in major league baseball that wouldn’t like to have more pitching.
Fans are typically idiots.
by The Typical Idiot Fan on Jul 2, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yes so
The likely list start with the teams that can throw the most money.
by RollingWave on Jul 2, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MLB contract
I’d be very surprised if he didn’t get a MLB contract. He strikes me as a better prospect than Viciedo and Ramirez, who both got MLB deals. His eventual team can send him down even if he gets one (see Viciedo, Kendry Morales, etc.).
by aCone419 on Jul 2, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ON subject what happened to?
Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez … Been about 8 months….
by novaoakland on Jul 2, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here is some video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE0iQmsFSms
If he were in the draft I think he would have gone 2nd, behind Strasburg. I’m guessing he gets around a 10 million dollar deal. Obviously needs to improve FB command, but I don’t think it is unreasonable to see him in the majors this September or next opening day.
by Birdfan01 on Jul 2, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like you're way off
Jorge Arangure is predicting $30-60M deal.
by deezle on Jul 2, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
september or opening day?
wanna bet on that?
by richieabernathy on Jul 2, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right on your first point. If he was eligible for the draft, he would have gone 2nd overall.
The difference is that since he’ll be an international free agent, he’ll get an open market deal. Strasburg doesn’t have that kind of leverage. He’ll get far more than Strasburg because of that.
Tools Whore
by Tyler on Jul 2, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right
I could see him getting up to 40, but I’d be surprised if he got more than that.
by Birdfan01 on Jul 2, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Age
Age of WBC participants is verified in order to play in the tournament. he’s 21.
by Dudestl on Jul 2, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Secondary
pitches aren’t there but he was clocked at 102 in the WBC.
by Willigan on Jul 2, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well...
According to Buster Olney,
“He has a fastball clocked at 101 or 102 MPH, and a plus curveball and plus slider, to use the scouts’ vernacular.”
So maybe the secondary pitches are there.
by Willigan on Jul 2, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My impression is that it's very hit or miss
That sometimes, he hits 100 with those good secondary pitches (from the left side, remember), but other times he barely touches 90. Of course, being from Cuba, American scouts have had relatively little access to him, and he’s still 21, so who knows?
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by OldProspects on Jul 2, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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