Once pitcher Aroldis Chapman defected from the Cuban national team in the Netherlands on Thursday, speculation instantly began over which major league club would sign him and how much money he would command.
The Yankees, who have been at the forefront of signing international pitchers, will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Chapman.
He fires a fastball that exceeds 100mph and is widely considered the premier pitching prospect in Cuba. His age was reported on Thursday as 21, but reports in March at the World Baseball Classic said he was 26.
Bart Hernandez, an agent who is hoping to represent Chapman, said Chapman threw 100mph and 101mph.
“If he polishes up his changeup and tightens up his slider, he can be a young Randy Johnson,” Hernandez said.
Chapman had a 5.68 earned run average over six-and-a-third innings in the World Baseball Classic.
He was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the Cubans for a tournament, but left the hotel. Chapman’s defection was first reported by www.cubaencuentro.com.
Hernandez theorized that Chapman could seek a four-year deal worth between US$30 million and US$60 million, which would limit the teams that pursue him.
“You have to look at the big-market teams,” Hernandez said.
Because the Yankees do not know how much Chapman will seek, beneral manager Brian Cashman declined comment.
The last time the Yankees dipped into the international pitching market, they signed Kei Igawa to a four-year, US$20 million deal in 2006.
He was ineffective at the major league level and has been marooned at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
After Jose Contreras defected from the Cuban team in 2002, the Yankees signed him to a four-year, US$32 million contract. Contreras faltered and was shipped to the Chicago White Sox in 2004. However, Orlando Hernandez, another Cuban defector, was a valuable player when the team won titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Tainan TSG Hawks slugger Steven Moya, who is leading the CPBL in home runs, has withdrawn from this weekend’s All-Star Game after the unexpected death of his wife. Moya’s wife began feeling severely unwell aboard a plane that landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday evening. She was rushed to a hospital, but passed away, the Hawks said in a statement yesterday. The franchise is assisting Moya with funeral arrangements and hopes fans who were looking forward to seeing him at the All-Star Game can understand his decision to withdraw. According to Landseed Medical Clinic, whose staff attempted to save Moya’s wife,
Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday homered for the fifth consecutive game, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record. Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year. Ohtani, who leads the National League with 37 home runs, homered in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. He hit a slow curveball 134m to center. He carried the bat midway down the first-base line and then did a bat flip. He did not hit a home run later in the game with the Dodgers trailing, but his presence was felt. With two outs
Taiwan’s world No. 6 shuttler Chou Tien-chen yesterday defeated India’s H.S. Prannoy to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Changzhou. It was former world No. 2 Chou’s eighth win in 14 matches against Prannoy, who had earlier this week lamented the age divide between him and up-and-comers, although he is only two years younger than 35-year-old Chou. The Taiwanese, who is seeded sixth at the tournament, rebounded from a close 21-18 loss in game 1 on Court 2 at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. He bounced back to take the next games 21-15, 21-8 and set up a tough quarter-final
The Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday acquired Taiwanese-American outfielder Stuart Fairchild from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations to fill the roster after All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe was placed back on the injured list. Fairchild was designated for assignment by the Braves on Monday after hitting .216/.273/.333 in 28 games for Atlanta, with most of his work coming as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. He joins Tampa Bay as a versatile fourth outfielder option. To make room for Fairchild on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred relief pitcher Manuel Rodriguez (forearm strain) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day
RSS