MLB - Sports Rumors

Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:50 am EDT

Yanks may be among suitors for Cuban defector

By Joe Zedalis

The New York Yankees will have discussions about whether they should pursue the left-handed Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban pitcher who defected while in the Netherlands, the New York Times reported.

According to the Times, he fires a fastball that exceeds 100 miles per hour and is widely considered the premier pitching prospect in Cuba. His age was reported 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 100 and 101 m.p.h. "If he polishes up his changeup and tightens up his slider, he can be a young Randy Johnson(notes)," Hernandez said.

Chapman had a 5.68 earned run average over six and a third innings while pitching for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic in March. He was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the Cubans for a tournament but left the team's hoteland defected. Chapman's defection was first reported by cubaencuentro.com, according to the Times.

Source: New York TimesNew Window

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206 Comments

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  1. linebackerheaven
    1. Posted by linebackerheaven Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:08 am EDT

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    And this suprises who?
  2. SAM G
    2. Posted by SAM G Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:15 am EDT

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    they have the money, they'll get him
  3. Crux
    3. Posted by Crux Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:20 am EDT

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    Happy 4th, Honker McHunger! You gonna shoot off yer pocket rocket?
    LBH, sup brudder?
  4. Crux
    4. Posted by Crux Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:22 am EDT

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    Three things Cubans are known for: cigars, poor raft construction and not knowing when they were born.
  5. Dorian
    5. Posted by Dorian Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:27 am EDT

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    Crux, that is right...Jose Contreras is 48 years old.
  6. linebackerheaven
    6. Posted by linebackerheaven Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:28 am EDT

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    Hung 18 point.
  7. Crux
    7. Posted by Crux Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:32 am EDT

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    Excellent way to honor our Nation, HunkyHong!!
    Hey, our main man Mr. Votto is back in da swing of things. Reds gonna pick it up now?
  8. Crux
    8. Posted by Crux Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:39 am EDT

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    Not a lot LBH, getting the football Jones a little since it has felt like fall here since April. lol
    Hung-Chang, what are you, about a 10 pt.?
  9. FELIX CAMPITI
    9. Posted by FELIX CAMPITI Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:48 am EDT

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    HonkeyHung, he has no nation, has no soul, a man with a whole lot of "jive" talk and not much to back it up with. Actually a pathetic little creature all considered.
  10. dave r
    10. Posted by dave r Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:50 am EDT

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    Cant be any worse than say..............Pavano...........Igawa.
  11. Dorian
    11. Posted by Dorian Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:01 am EDT

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    Felix, did you toss your plate of shrimp scampi against the wall like i did when the yankees lost yesterday..because i did then spent 100$ on a hooker.
  12. Sean-Boy
    12. Posted by Sean-Boy Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:26 am EDT

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    Chapman is a Cuban name??? And a 5.68 ERA? Sounds like he needs alot of work on control if his ERA is that high.
  13. Jody K
    13. Posted by Jody K Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:30 am EDT

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    6. Posted by Crux Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:22 am EDT Report Abuse
    Three things Cubans are known for: cigars, poor ----AND NOT KNOWING THEIR AGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. stvray12605
    14. Posted by stvray12605 Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:48 am EDT

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    with a name like aroidis, he'll be a perfect fit with the yankees... what? it's aroldis chapman, not aroidis? never mind. sorry
  15. The Real Deal
    15. Posted by The Real Deal Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:50 am EDT

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    Well, if he had an era of 5.68 in the WBC, he is no Dice K.
  16. stvray12605
    16. Posted by stvray12605 Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:57 am EDT

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    and you can see how dice k performed for the team that's supposed to matter after pitching with a 2.45 era in the wbc. 1-5 with an 8.23. that's practically wang-like
  17. scott
    17. Posted by scott Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:10 am EDT

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    Crux, poor raft construction? Come on, a guy builds a boat out of a 58 Chevy truck and almost makes it to the Keys? I think somehow they getting Monster Garage in Cuba.
  18. stewie
    18. Posted by stewie Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:14 am EDT

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    What kind of rumor is this?? All the teams with $$$ will be interested. Then the Yanks will out bid everyone, mainly to keep him out of Boston. Then they ll sign him, only to find out 2 months later that he s really 50 yeaqrs old, comes from Jackson Heights ,Queens, and that 101mph was done with a cuban radar gun. And he tops out at 91 same old,same old.
  19. stvray12605
    19. Posted by stvray12605 Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:22 am EDT

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    lol stewie. this does sound familiar
  20. davfied
    20. Posted by davfied Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:23 am EDT

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    Morning all. Even you Hung Mans Crappy Draws.
    Comrade Real- No Slice-N-Dice but maybe a mean cigar.
    Scott- He didn't want to lose his ride!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, this is all pure speculation to raise the price. Like that oil speculator did this year.
  21. scott
    21. Posted by scott Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:25 am EDT

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    Stewie, 50? The Angels found out somehow that Vlad aged 2 years in the off season. 5.68 in the WBC? I don't think Perdo was that high.
  22. Brad S
    22. Posted by Brad S Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:27 am EDT

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    the guy should have to enter the MLB baseball draft to get into the league. isn't that the idea of having a draft in the first place? to keep things fair. if he doesn't like it, he should hop back on his tube and get to paddling
  23. davfied
    23. Posted by davfied Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:29 am EDT

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    Stewie,
    Too funny. Won't they check his teeth to find out his age? Like they do with Chimps.
    Scott,
    I think you may have been doing battle with Felix's faker. This AM is the faker for sure.
  24. scott
    24. Posted by scott Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:31 am EDT

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    Dav, how many young lefty's can polish their change-up and tighten up their slider to become the next Randy Johnson? Maybe he's Jewish, then he could be the next, Koufax. That and who can trust the age? That's a lot of ifs. He is so good, he threw a whole 6 1/3 innings? I'm thinking BS. Stewie might be right.
  25. scott
    25. Posted by scott Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:36 am EDT

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    Dav, you could be right on the faker. I never had a problem with Felix before. I was just a little pissed, yesterday and didn't take that into consideration. Only a week and a half and I get to start weights.

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