MLB - Sports Rumors

Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:38 am EDT

Tigers in on hunt for Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman

By Mark J. Miller

“AroldisCuban defector Aroldis Chapman already has more than a few major league teams after him. You can now apparently add the Detroit Tigers to the list, according to MLB.com.

The Tigers are apparently hoping to meet with Chapman and see if he's a good fit. "We're basically just at the interest level. Because of the nature, I think it's a situation where they're going to take the time to allow clubs to spend some time with the player and see who he is," said Tom Moore, Detroit's Director of International Scouting to MLB.

Chapman will likely get more than the $32 million that the New York Yankees dug up for fellow Cuban defector Jose Contreras(notes) in 2002, according to Sports Illustrated. And why not? The guy can supposedly hit 102 mph on the radar gun. The Yankees, of course, are in the hunt for Chapman as well and had him as a guest at Game 6 of the ALCS.

Teams that supposedly have serious interest include the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently saying that they don't have the dough to make a competitive offer for Chapman.

Source: MLB.comNew WindowSI.comNew Window

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50 Comments

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  1. Joey R
    1. Posted by Joey R Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:01 am EDT

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    Come on Stros and Rangers get in on this
  2. Hazen
    2. Posted by Hazen Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:01 am EDT

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    hell yeah..we need a lefty who isn't old, physco and overpaid...go tigers
  3. JASON G
    3. Posted by JASON G Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:14 am EDT

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    Come on...Why are we even talking about this? He's going to be a Yankee, guaranteed. There is really no reason to mention any other teams. This guy is far from a guaranteed success in the MLB, and the Yankees are really the only team that have the money to possibly throw away if he is a bust.
  4. Nick G
    4. Posted by Nick G Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:20 am EDT

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    Tigers can't afford him with all the bad contracts they've got on the books. We'll have almost as much to spend as the Yankees in 2011, but right now we're stuck paying for Willis, Bonderman, Robertson, Ordonez, and Guillen.
  5. RaymondGuy
    5. Posted by RaymondGuy Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:22 am EDT

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    Aroldis Chapman might come to Detroit then realize Cuba's living standard is higher, Cuba's crime rate much lower and return home.
  6. str A's hooter
    6. Posted by str A's hooter Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:10 am EDT

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    After visisting Detroit, Chapman might have second thoughts. Dontrelle has fallen on hard times since signing with Detroit. Detroit is a depressing and stressful place to live and work, nowdays.
  7. Artist formerly known as Evil Empire!
    7. Posted by Artist formerly known as Evil Empire! Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:33 am EDT

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    It will come down to Yankees,Red Sox, and Mets. I f i were to place a bet on which team I say the Mets have the best chance. They are saying they want to spend this offseason and with a need for pitching they seem most ideal to sign him. Red Sox will be busy trading for Felix or Halladay and Yankees will be busy trying to stop the Red Sox for making such moves
  8. Brian C
    8. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    The only teams who are going to be serious contenders for him are the Yanks and the Sox. I hope the Sox get him because these deals for unknown foreign players never work out. We'll find out his fastball is 98mph instead of 102, that he is actually 3 years older than he claims to be and after a good showing for a season or so the league will figure out his delivery and he will get rocked and hit hard never to be seen again. See Irabu, Contreras, Dice K, Igawa.
  9. Brian C
    9. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:03 am EDT

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    And either way the Yankees don't need anymore starters. They already have CC, AJ, Joba, Hughes, Wang, Aceves, Kennedy, Brackton in their system and Andy might even come back for another go around. I'm not saying those guys are aces or even #3 starters but they have guys they can let audition for the rotation this spring so why spend $40-$50M to add another starter and more importantly someone who is unknown?
  10. Judge
    10. Posted by Judge Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:22 am EDT

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    You can never have enough pitching, and Chapman may be a huge stud (better than all of them aside from CC). Yankees need to compensate for never having a decent first round pick, and take advantage of the situation. I fully expect this to be between Boston, the Mets and the Yankees, and we know who usually wins those battles.
  11. Brian C
    11. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:40 am EDT

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    Bryan- yeah we usually do win those battles but after seeing recent history of these supposed star pitchers who get paid upfront without much being known about them or how they will do against major league hitters I don't know if I'd want them to get Chapman. Dice K for all the talk about him walks a lot of guys and hitters seem to have learned his delivery and style and now instead of striking themselves out they lay off his pitches knowing he will throw a lot of balls. Igawa led his league in Japan in strikeouts but once he came here he has been garbage. Contreras was no where near as good as advertised either. I like the guys the Yankees have already. I'm not saying they are great but most of them are serviceable. Hughes and Joba have shown they can be very good. I'd let all of the guys we have fight for 1 or 2 spots next spring and save the $50M.
  12. kevinov2000
    12. Posted by kevinov2000 Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:41 am EDT

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    Forget about the Tigers. Not sure how they even got into this conversation. I totally agree with Nick G in that regard.
    And of all the pitchers options, why would he even want to come here?
    I can't imagine anyone outbidding the Yankees.
    I can't see the Sox making another ridiculous amount of money like they did for Dice K given the results.
    The Mets never seem to get it done, so if I am that pitcher, especially after having been a guest at game 6...I all ready know where I am going to sign.
  13. Brian C
    13. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:47 am EDT

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    Smart by Yanks to have the guy in house for them winning the pennant. Shows him that if he wants to win and play on the national stage that NY is where he wants to sign. Again I'd pass on him due to the large price it is going to cost and the fact that no one is sure if he is going to be as good as advertised once he faces major league hitters. Big difference between the Cuban league and the majors.
  14. quincy d
    14. Posted by quincy d Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:56 am EDT

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    Give it up, he will land with the White Sox. The agent for all the Cubans the Sox currently have is the same guy representing him now. One trip to the Windy City and it's over for the rest of you. Not to mention a Latin manager to play for. It's not looking too good for the Tigers who choked away a chance at the playoffs. Cubs? Baltimore? Mets? Oakland? PLEASE! There is no way in hell he considers those LOSERS. Boston is over-rated, Cardinals definitley have some issues, and we know Toronto can keep dreaming. Besides the White Sox the only team that would over-pay would be the Yankees especially when they win the WS this year. But they have good arms already and chances are they won't spend more money. So the clear cut winner is the White Sox. See in 5 months for Spring Training suckahs!
  15. CJ
    15. Posted by CJ Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:07 am EDT

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    Biggest homer on the Yahoo boards = quincy d. I like the White Sox btw, this mental midget makes me question that.
  16. jimmayyyyyy
    16. Posted by jimmayyyyyy Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:10 am EDT

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    How much did the yanks trow away at the lesser version of Dice-K. what was his name? 35 million if I remember right. Give the kid 100 million for 6 years. Pettie is just about done. Having a left handed ace would be nice.
  17. Brian C
    17. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:20 am EDT

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    How is Pettitte just about done? Didn't look done to me as he was winning his 16th post season game Sunday night. I'd give the kid nothing and let some other team make the mistake of signing him sight unseen. And Igawa was a lesser version of Dice K but that move isn't paying off for the Sox as of late. Got to love a pitcher who gives up 5 walks per game. Great way to invest $103M.
  18. Tog Burtle
    18. Posted by Tog Burtle Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:25 am EDT

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    Until there is a real salary cap, it doesn't matter which of the three or four big market teams wins this guy. Baseball loses again.
  19. Steve
    19. Posted by Steve Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:26 am EDT

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    With the success the White Sox have had in signing Cubans lately, I'd like our chances - especially if we bring back Contreras. Only problem is we're already pretty bloated financially after bringing on Peavy and Rios...
  20. Brian C
    20. Posted by Brian C Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:30 am EDT

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    No need for a salary cap. What is needed is for certain owners who have an allergy to spending money to start actually trying to sign free agents and offer reasonable extensions to their own star players. The Marlins, Nationals, Rays, Reds, Royals are a joke and start every year with no real chance of winning the World Series despite the large influx of money they receive from MLB in revenue sharing. The owners and management of the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mets, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers should not be faulted for wanting to win and spending the money to give their fans a great on filed product.
  21. BiG TaAnK
    21. Posted by BiG TaAnK Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:43 am EDT

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    White soxs blow
  22. Johnny K
    22. Posted by Johnny K Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:25 pm EDT

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    @ #21
    "White soxs blow"
    lol really? do red soxs blow too?
  23. John M
    23. Posted by John M Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:37 pm EDT

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    Hey Brian C. When you say Sox. you need to be clear. there are 2 "sox" teams out there. Remember Baseball does not revolve around Boston and NY. There are 30 teams. Of course ESPN thinks differently.
  24. quincy d
    24. Posted by quincy d Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:45 pm EDT

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    I am guessing CJ stands for "critical jerk". The only midget is in your pants idiot.
  25. jet
    25. Posted by jet Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:26 pm EDT

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    and we've all seen how amazing most of the Cuban defectors have turned out to be... a total waste of money, if you ask me... when will baseball ever learn?? probably never.. i wish theyd all go broke... then theyd learn...

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