Monday, November 16, 2009
Yahoo: Bright lights, big dollars await Cuban lefty
The new world is bright and full of possibilities, and that excites both of them. Aroldis Chapman, who spent the first 21 years of his life shackled to an island, is absorbing his fresh tableau: skyscrapers and technology and the siren of vast riches unattainable in Cuba. Meanwhile, Chapman’s tour guide, Edwin Mejia, traverses a far different landscape: one filled with subterfuge and egos and landmines in the way of those vast riches.
Photo Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has been clocking in pitches at 100 mph.
(Gregory Bull/AP Photo)For Chapman, the hardest part is done. He walked out of the hotel in Rotterdam. Those were the most painful steps he’ll ever take, not just away from his team and his country but his pregnant girlfriend and the rest of his family, whom he left because nobody appreciates a left arm that throws a baseball 100 mph more than men in suits in the United States.
A little story on the player who’ll soon be the Red Sox’s 13th ace…
Comments
A little story on the player who’ll soon be the Red Sox’s 13th ace…
While I want the Yankees to sign him - assuming a “fair” deal - you know what would be nice? If the Nationals signed him. Then they could have some really solid pitching in the years ahead, and probably be competitive in their division.
It’s almost certainly going to be the Yankees or Sox though, possibly with LAD or LAA invovled.
Prediction: Theo signs Chapman and trades the Papelboner.
Mike - it would be nice to see the Nationals or some other team than the Yanks/Sox sign a big name int’l free agent. Nationals, as crazy as it seems, aren’t that far away from being a respectable contender.
A little story on the player who’ll soon be the Red Sox’s 13th ace…
So, you’re saying that Chapman will sign before Lackey then?
I’d love to see the Nationals sign Chapman. Hell, I’d buy season tickets even though the commute is pretty brutal. It’d be worth battling the beltway on days that Strassburg or Chapman are pitching.
Mike - it would be nice to see the Nationals or some other team than the Yanks/Sox sign a big name int’l free agent.
Word is the Cubs are not as interested as most thought. But I have a tough time believing that. They need the pitching and I can’t imagine them not considering him seriously.
It’d be worth battling the beltway on days that Strassburg or Chapman are pitching.
That’s exactly my point. Drum up interest in that area, get other teams being contenders. Good for baseball, good for deflecting questions about Yankees payroll (until Yankees sweep the Nationals in the series, anyway).
[4] Yeah, I didn’t think about the Cubs. Really both NY teams, both LA teams, and the Cubs and Red Sox. I’d put the O’s as a darkhorse; they have the money, and they finally seem to have a shrewd GM with some independence.
Cuban defector! Huge Fastball! Big Dollars! The Next Cy Young! Jose Contreras.
it would be nice to see the Nationals or some other team than the Yanks/Sox sign a big name int’l free agent.
Didn’t the Twins just spend big bucks on some SS? Sano? Typical Twins buying players and buying AL Central titles.
It’d be worth battling the beltway on days that Strassburg or Chapman are pitching.
Nothing is worth battling the beltway these days, especially with the HOT lane construction on the VA side.
Nothing is worth battling the beltway these days…
OK. I’ll park at the Vienna Metro stop.
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