MLB - Sports Rumors

Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:01 am EST

Atlanta Braves trying to snag Cuban defector Chapman

By Mark J. Miller

“AroldisThe Atlanta Braves are denying it, according to MLB.com, but the word on the street is that the team is joining the fray for the services of young gun Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, according to Sports Illustrated.

Sports Illustrated has it that the two sides are planning to meet up soon enough but GM Frank Wren tells MLB.com that no such plans exist.

Other teams supposedly willing to throw a boatload of cash at the 21-year-old lefty Chapman to get him are the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners. New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. In short, everybody wants him.

Source: Sports IllustratedNew WindowMLB.comNew Window

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35 Comments

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  1. Daniel P
    1. Posted by Daniel P Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:22 am EST

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    "In short, everybody wants him."
    So shut up.
  2. str A's hooter
    2. Posted by str A's hooter Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:23 am EST

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    I don't see the Oakland A's, who is listed as an interested party in Miller's article, as throwing a "boatload of cash" at the "fella". Maybe the Yankees. They are one starter short as is evident in this year's World Series!
  3. Artist formerly known as Evil Empire!
    3. Posted by Artist formerly known as Evil Empire! Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:05 am EST

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    Chase Utley...what else can I say about him. He is a machine
  4. j a
    4. Posted by j a Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:30 am EST

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    come join fellow countymen a. ramirez and d. vicedio with the white sox
  5. blindog53
    5. Posted by blindog53 Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:42 am EST

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    The Braves need a power hitter not another pitcher !
  6. Brian C
    6. Posted by Brian C Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:06 am EST

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    I don't care how many teams want this guy. He is unproven in the major leagues. I would not risk the millions of dollars it is going to take to sign him and have him turn out to be another Dice K, Contreras or Irabu. The only team that should give it a go is the Nationals because if they had Chapman and Strasburg then at least they would have a chance to draw some fans. The way I see it that team as it stands is #1 on the list of teams to be contracted should it ever happen so they need to do something to get fans into the seats and having 2 pitchers with huge potential as their #1 and #2 might be a way to do so.
  7. Anthony C
    7. Posted by Anthony C Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:11 am EST

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    i agree with blindog53, the braves dont need another pitcher, they need a commanding bat.
  8. The Real Deal
    8. Posted by The Real Deal Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:19 am EST

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    Good morning Artist,
    Well, Utley is Mr. November.
  9. Howie from Poughkeepsie
    9. Posted by Howie from Poughkeepsie Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:30 am EST

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    The plan could be to trade one or both of Lowe and Vasquez to get the 'power hitter' and a serviceable relief pitcher to replace Gonzalez and Soriano - and Chapman joins the rotation.....not bad if Chapman commands $11M or less - what the Braves would owe Vasquez for 2010. I'm also surprised to not see the Mets on the list of pursuers. They have 1 1/2 starting pitchers (Santana and sometimes Maine)......unless Pelfrey turns it around.....Braves have somehow rationalized trading serviceable players to their arch rival (e.g., Francouer) so Lowe to the Mets would be great for Atlanta and the Mets.......even if all the Braves do is a salary dump.......the 'hot stove league' is gonna be very interesting this off season....
  10. scott
    10. Posted by scott Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:33 am EST

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    I thought a month ago, the Angels and the Dodgers were on this list. Chapman and Kendry Morales are supposed to be buddy, buddy. Maybe the people writing this really don't know shi-ott.
    Brian, I agree, big gamble for someone that hasn't faced the best. He should have to go into a draft.
  11. Brian C
    11. Posted by Brian C Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:43 am EST

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    Scott I don't think anyone should get big money until they prove themselves against major league hitters and that includes draft picks. Strasburg didn't deserve $15M before ever throwing a pitch in the minors let alone the majors. But for Chapman to be able to just show up and be able to sign with any team for the highest price is ridiculous and unfair to all the players who were forced to enter the draft. Strasburg as unproven as he was could have gotten $60M minimum has he been able to bypass the draft. Plus high draft picks get stuck on the worst teams. Chapman gets to basically pick where he goes and I'm sure he will pick a team that contends for the playoffs regularly. Strasburg is going to be stuck on a last place team for several years before he gets the chance to escape.
  12. scott
    12. Posted by scott Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:59 am EST

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    Brian, I agree on the $$ but you know the chances of that happening. Without a doubt, he needs to go into a draft and if he doesn't like Pittsburg or Washington or KC, he can sit out a year.
  13. Rob F
    13. Posted by Rob F Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:04 am EST

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    Just what the Braves need, another good young arm. Oh, wait, that's how they built their last division winner. My bad.
  14. philsphanwest
    14. Posted by philsphanwest Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:39 am EST

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    Rob F #13: I don't think they built it with 7 starters and no power bats, Rob. I'm completely perplexed by the moves the Braves are reportedly making this off-season. It reminds me of last year when the Cubs became so obsessed with Jake Peavy when they already had at least 5 great starting pitchers and in the process missed out on Raul Ibanez.
    I still don't see too many teams being willing to take on Derek Lowe's ridiculous contract AND part with a power bat, OR trade a power bat for just one expensive year of Javier Vazquez. Having said that, and I doubt they'd do it within the division, but if I'm the Phillies, who have an MLB-ready OF beast named Michael Taylor sitting in AAA ball, I would trade Raul Ibanez for Javier Vazquez and a pitching prospect, who will surely otherwise be blocked from the Braves' rotation. Both Vazquez and Ibanez will make $11.5 million next year, so the money is a wash. Ibanez has two years remaining on his deal, thus the need for the Braves to add the pitching prospect to even things out. For the Phillies, Taylor is a RH hitter, which provides both a little more balance in their lineup, and frees up some cash for 2011 and beyond.
  15. MKE J
    15. Posted by MKE J Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:03 pm EST

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    This situation is exactly the reason they need to add international players into the amateur draft. It's only going to get worse before he signs.
  16. DICK SMOTHERS
    16. Posted by DICK SMOTHERS Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:49 pm EST

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    Dodgers need to sign that a$$.
  17. bsawyer
    17. Posted by bsawyer Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:23 pm EST

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    This kid should have to be drafted. Period. Selig needs to fix this mess before he goes. Salaries, defectors and a more credible salary cap. Baseball has lost its luster to the older fans, yet building a great younger generation of new fans. I'd like to see it more like football where competition exists between more than a half dozen teams. Install a more legitamate salary cap and then the owners, GMs, coaches and players can be held accountable because of the more closely linked salaries of teams. Floor of 75 milion(taxed or penalized if under) and something more pallatable of a ceiling aproaching the 140 million range. It can be done and it would make baseball enjoyable to watch again......The regular season has become awful baseball
  18. Robert W
    18. Posted by Robert W Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:25 pm EST

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    Keep Vazquez and dump Lowe. Like someone just said we need a power hitter not another pitcher. We don't need Soriano or Gonzo. So let's start dumping now. Keep Adam LaRoche at 1st base. Which I doubt will happen. It's all a money game you know.
  19. Rob F
    19. Posted by Rob F Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:50 pm EST

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    Yeah ppw, I don't know what they are thinking. It's like they don't have a direction and don't know what to do. The only good thing so far is keeping Cox on another year. Good manager who deserves the respect.
  20. wow
    20. Posted by wow Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:59 pm EST

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    hes gonna be a lefty joel zumaya just watch
  21. Lowcountry Bulldawg
    21. Posted by Lowcountry Bulldawg Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:49 pm EST

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    Braves if re-signing Laroche is a priority, then they do not need Ibanez. Ibanez is a left-handed hitter who before this year was a 15-20 homer guy. They need a right-handed thumper to bat in between Chipper and McCann. Move Lowe, absorb half of the remaining contract and use the money that you free up to aquire a big bat. Then you have a rotation of Vazquez, JJ, Hanson, Hudson and "Holy Kowey". The roation at that point is fine and again saving 25 million by dumping Lowe you can entertain not only the needed bat, but also re-signing Soriano or Gonzo.
  22. Josh
    22. Posted by Josh Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:14 pm EST

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    Any video of this kid?
  23. Josh
    23. Posted by Josh Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:16 pm EST

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    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbAYAeb7xc
  24. RedWingFan
    24. Posted by RedWingFan Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:50 pm EST

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    Gordie Howe is GOD !
  25. robert p
    25. Posted by robert p Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:42 pm EST

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    How many times now, have we seen these supposed superstars with hands out demanding big bucks with not one ining under their belts. Well ! I say let some other lucky team get him and if he turns out to be any good he will be dieing to sign with the Yanks down the road, maybe then we grab him. Kie Agawa or what ever his name is was one of those superstars. screwed once it is their fault, screwed twice is your own fault

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