Oakland A's Also Interested In Aroldis Chapman.

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 30, 2009 3:00 PM EST

The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Schlusser writes this morning, in an SFGate.com article entitled, "A's: Cuban pitcher wooed", that the Oakland A's and GM Billy Beane are, in her words, "...in the thick of the bidding," for the 22-year-old, Cuban-born, left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman. The A's join the Red Sox and Marlins as three teams who've made public their interest in the international free agent, though 15 teams watched him pitch in a showcase bullpen session earlier this month. Will the Washington Nationals make an offer? Have they already? The new DC Front Office has maintained their increasingly familiar quiet public stance on any negotiations or offers if they've taken place or been made, though DC GM Mike Rizzo has stated that he was impressed with what he saw in the throwing sessions. Ms. Schlusser (guess)timates that Chapman, who reportedly has offers for around $13 and $15 million already on the table, "...could be looking for something close to $20 million."

Have the Nationals made an offer? Can they afford another 20-something pitcher in the same price range as Stephen Strasburg? Can a rebuilding team afford to pass up a chance at a pitcher this talented when all it will cost them is cash? How high would you go with an offer if you were the Nationals?

(ed. note - "Here's last night's post about why Chapman and his agents might want to work out a deal sooner rather than later.")

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Aroldis Chapman would be a good fit in DC.

At least in terms of my understanding of “the plan,” it makes sense to sign him. Get it done, Rizzo!

by John Quinn on Dec 30, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions

Has anyone else heard the chatter that Champman may not have the arm to be a big league starter, fatigue wise? They he may have bullpen written all over him. Thats why the Yankees haven’t had a large scouting presence at his sessions.

Aroldis Chapman should sign for more than the $15.67MM that Stephen Strasburg obtained, even though scouts aren’t uniformly impressed with the Cuban lefty and wonder if he might end up as a reliever

Also he supposed to sign by tomorrow, so he doesn’t lose millions due to taxes.

by Parks Smith on Dec 30, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions

From the reports I've read and from a few smart baseball people I've asked...

Chapman just has 1-2 pitches right now which is why there is the reliever talk.

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Dec 30, 2009 9:46 PM EST up reply actions