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After watching the very interesting press conference earlier today, I have a bold statement to make:
The signing of pitcher Aroldis Chapman is the biggest free agent acquisition in Cincinnati Reds history (obviously, we’re just talking about free agent acquisitions during the free agent era, beginning in the mid-seventies — and after the implementation of the draft).
Discuss amongst yourselves.
UPDATE: If you missed the presser, you can watch it here.
Oh I definitely agree. Look at all the hype and excitement in the community. The Reds are even being discussed on ESPN!!!
Granted I’m only 20 years old, so I haven’t been around (or old enough to appreciate) any real Reds success besides 99.
I wouldn’t disagree, especially recently. Dave Parker was a big signing, but to sign a young guy like this is big. I sure hope he pans out.
This is a huge signing. The way it happened is amazing. There was no discussion with the Reds whatsoever. It came out of nowhere. It is certainly one of the biggest signings by the Reds in my lifetime.
Who do you think the Reds top 5 free agent signings have been?
You mean besides Eric Milton.
I’d like to see a list of top FA signings. I tend to forget these types of things. I remember being excited when they signed Ron Gant.
I was happy with Gant, but he was a risk trying to prove his worth.
Love the Eric Milton reference: Left handed starting FA. Hopefully that’s where the comparisons stop.
Just an indicator of what will happen when the Castro Brothers leave the scene and Cuba is open to MLB. Chapman played on the national team and has never heard of Tony Perez. Just shows how closed Cuba is.
I have been excited ever since I heard of this yesterday. The Griffey trade was the last time I was this happy for a new player coming in. The thought of Chapman, Homer, Cueto, Volquez, and Leake in the rotation makes me giddy. Hopefully Frazier, Yonder the other guys will develop within a couple of years and Cincy can make a decade long run atop the division.
I don’t know how this will turn out — any 22-year-old fireballer is a risk — but I LOVE how bold and unconventional the move is. Even if it flops, I applaud that. We’ve seen way too little of that these last few years.
God, what an awkward press conference. None of those scribes asked anything you couldn’t find on his bio, and yet I was mesmerized. I loved hearing they’re going to get him w/ Soto and Price ASAP.
That said, I fully expect him to struggle until mid-season. This kid is gonna have a lot on his plate—culture, seeing better hitters, language, etc. Let’s not rush him, even if that means we don’t see him until mid-2011.
This is really nice. Honestly, I don’t think Chapman, Bailey, Cueto, Volquez, and Leake are all likely to be great or healthy, but I bet three of them will be and three front line starters is what you need.
Right now the Reds top FA signing is Dave Parker. Chapman will have to accomplish the equivalent before I consider him the top signing.
In 1985, Parker, along with rookie pitcher Tom Browning, transformed the Reds from a bottom dweller to a 2nd place team. He should have been MVP that season.
Is anyone here an ESPN Insider ? (I used to be, but after a while didn’t think it was worth it.)
Keith Law has an article that states:
“Aroldis Chapman is an outstanding addition to an already-improving Cincinnati pipeline of young players and sets the Reds up to have one of the National League’s best rotations in 2012 if more than a few of their young arms develop as hoped.”
“To read about what could be a stellar young staff in Cincy but what must change across MLB to fix a serious problem, you must be an ESPN Insider.”
So what does he say about what could be a stellar young staff and what must change across MLB ?
It’s really nice to see an article about the Reds on Yahoo’s front page that doesn’t involve gambling or illegal payouts.
With the type of money the Jason Marquis and Randy Wolf’s of the world are making nowadays, this is an outstanding signing. Even if he doesn’t help at all this year, your looking at a great talent for a great price over the next 5 years…and that is a wonderful feeling.
As far as the biggest signing…I think it is the biggest that I can remember. Especially when you consider the fact the Reds were not even mentioned in the conversation until 2 days ago. So I would rank it number 1 just on the sheer surprise of them going after a guy like this.
Pinson,
Law essentially blasts the MLB draft system via the Strasburg/Chapman contract comparison. He chides the system by stating how Strasburg (an American) had minimal bargaining power when compared to Chapman (an International, but a free agent). Strasburg, being American, had to go through the draft process, meaning only 1 team had the ability to sign him, so he went for about half the overall contract value of Chapman, who was afforded the opportunity to negotiate with all teams.
He gives us props for going after him, given his potential value in wins in 2,3,4,5,6 years.
You just had to bring that one up…lol.
I remember a couple of days before they signed him I was at a legion banquet and Dave Miley was the speaker. He was talking about how they were getting ready to make a great move to improve their pitching. Then they announced that they signed Milton…I told my dad that day the signing would be disastrous.
Free Agent perhaps, but biggest acquisition by far was the Kid.
Actually, I hope he has a normal development process equivalent to a 1st round pick. He should develope at his own speed, even if it takes 2 to 3 years. In terms of a developmental track, he may be another Bailey, or he could be in a world of his own and head north with the team in April. A lot depends on him.
Funny how everyone has forgotten about Maloney, Klinker, and Wood since yesterday. There are too many unknowns to predict for 2011. But as of right now, you have 13 solid, viable options for that 2011 rotation. Incredible depth! Koodos to DO, WK, and WJ for making that happen. Defense… check. Pitching… check. Offense…
@Kevin Mitchell is Batman: Thanks, I appreciate that.
I’m with Dan. You never know how these things will work out in the long run, but I sure like the boldness WJ is showing here.
It was an interesting press conference. A little awkward, but what can you expect ? I was impressed that his agent said that the APPROACH the Reds took toward him, in terms of considering his needs as a person, was a big factor in his favor.
WJ was impressive, I was surprised by his willingness to say that if Chapman is one of the 5 best starters in ST, he’ll come north. I don’t think Chapman will come north with the Reds, and it’s probably best that he not, but I don’t mind his being given the chance.
The press has talked about his being uncoachable, but I don’t think that will be an issue. He’s a little awed to be here, which is a good thing. I think he’s genuinely eager to learn and become the best pitcher he can be.
Like all of you, I am shocked and awed at the signing. But, I don’t want Chapman to come North until Dusty is put out to pasture. No more ruining young pitchers for Lord Toothpick.
@pinson343:
I thought the same thing about the agent and the whole personal approach. It kind of feels like when Josh Hamilton became a Red — unique situation, good fit, great potential…
Hope Chapman will be playing cards in the clubhouse with Voltron, Cueto and the gang someday soon!
Is that really a fair comment? Since coming to the Reds Dusty has made a number of bad mistakes, but I don’t see how he has “harmed” our young arms? The issue with Volquez wasn’t with how Dusty used him, but the amount of pitching he did away from the Reds.
Signing Aroldis Chapman was a big signing
Whether he pans out or not, it’s a Big Deal that management is willing to do business this way. Much better to take a risk on Chapman than to hire a car-load of 35-year-old weinies.
As for Chapman’s near-term future: Who knows? He may go out Arizona and polish up a suite of 4 pitches by March. Or, maybe not. If he really can consistently throw at or near 100 mph, perhaps it isn’t that big a deal.
But… I expect to see him start the year in AAA minors, with periodic trips to GABP to measure his progress against big league hitters. At some point, he’ll stay.
Definitely the biggest from a news standpoint it is yet to be determined whether it is the best.
@Drew Nelson: Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Edinson Volquez (208 innings pitched in 08 may have had something to do with injury in addition to the few he pitched in offseason). Its all a big conincidence that Dusty happened to be their manager at the time. Oh and the Harang in relief then he sucks for the rest of the year, not Dusty’s fault at all.
Haha he’s so cocky though in some of the videos i’ve seen… he knows he’s good.
Interpreter to Chapman (during negotitions): “This team calls themselves the Reds, just like our comrades in Russia. They have red caps with a white C, just like you had in Cuba. Do you want to join this team or would you rather join one of the capitalist teams in New York or Boston?”
I’m watching Baseball tonight. Of course the Reds signed Chapman the same day McGwire “came clean”. Just when I thought we would get some press…..
@preach: I thought the same thing.
I hope they treat him the same way the treated bailey,rush him thru the system then demote after he has a couple of bad outings.seems the only guy who gets away with being allowed to grow on the job no matter how many bad outings he has in a row is queto.it sure seems like he has started the last 2 seasons on fire then done nothing after mid june.if he makes it 5 innings after that it’s considered a great effort and he has turned the corner until he gets blasted his next start.hopefuly he has rested his arm this winter so he won’t tire out as easy and be a more consistant pitcher.if not how about demoting him for a change instead of making excuses for him?I get that bailey was a high pick and all but still to be jerked around like he has been does not make getting to ace status any easier.but since he had help from someone outside he seems to have turned the corner.
Over/under on when Marty declares Chapman a bust – something like, “Frankly folks, I just don’t think this kid is ever gonna figure it out.”
I suppose he’ll wait until May 2010.
@JustTheFacts: Agree about Jr. being the biggest acquisition. I just hope that if Chapman struggles the fans don’t get down on him right away.
Speaking of Cueto and the Reds handling of young pitchers, have the Reds allowed Cueto to pitch in winter ball ? They shouldn’t. One of Dusty’s smartest moves since coming here was leaving Cueto in long enough for his last 2 starts of the season to get him over 170 innings. That left the Reds in control over whether he would pitch this winter, I hope he’s not.
The only clear case of abuse of a young pitcher by Dusty – since he came to the Reds – was Cueto, from last July until mid-August. It all started with that 22-1 loss to the Phillies and ended with Cueto getting bombed by the Nats in mid-August. After that, he was finally examined and put on the DL.
In between those 2 starts, he was hit hard every start and his arm was visibly dead. Even Cubs radio broadcasters in late July couldn’t believe he was being run out there every 5 days to get hammered,
but he was. Not even a single start where he was moved back to get an extra day or two of rest.
It was sheer stupidity, and Dusty wasn’t the only one responsible.
PS Cueto’s bad start against the Phillies was July 7.
The Nats pounded him on August 15. In between, every start was poor. He even had to leave his August 10 start against the Cardinals in the 3rd inning, with a leg injury. But there he was on the mound on the 15th.
Anybody seen Sugar?
I’m always leery when this club makes a big free agent acquisition. What we’re forgetting in all this excitement is the Reds have never been major players on the free agent market, and when they are, aside from maybe Dave Parker, there really haven’t been many free agents who have fulfilled expectations. I think it’s great that they’re making moves, but the move doesn’t end here. They really need to nurture this kid as they have indicated they would or a lot can go wrong.
Who knows, maybe it was the red cap with the white C. And that may have been how I became a Reds fan at the age of 4.
I haven’t seen Sugar yet, it got strong reviews. I know what it’s about. Right now it should be required viewing for Reds’ management, all the way thru the minor leagues.
You gotta watch Sugar. One of the best films I’ve seen in the last couple of years.
@pinson343: Cueto pitched just enough innings during the regular season to exclude him from pitching winter ball. I did not know that rule or contract provision existed until this past year.
[...] Red Leg Nation declares the signing the biggest free agent acquisition in Reds history… [...]
That is good news in my opinion that Cueto is not pitching in winter ball.
The Chapman signing is a good one. Hope he stays injury free.
If the Reds have money, why not get rid of Baker?
Sugar is on my Netflix list.
@JustTheFacts: Yes, starting prospects #6 and beyond haven’t been mentioned in the past two days. And all conversation of targeting Webb as a free agent for 2011 has (momentarily) ceased, also.
Totally Agree with you John. But I’m not sure we have enough of a track record with this ownership group. As far as I can remember, Mr. Castellini hasn’t done much in FA since he took over the ownership. The thing that encourages me is that WJ does indeed have a good track record in free agency. He’s not been perfect, but during his tenure with the Cards, WJ was an acquisition GM, not a farm system GM.
Another bit of encouragement is that DO, WK, and WJ all have focused a great deal of effort improving the scouting. Each time there was a GM change, the scouting department did not get blown up, rather each new GM brought in the best of who he knew. As a result, the Reds have one of the best scouting departments in the business. If the Reds scouting department was this hot for this cuban missile, then the risk/reward must have a serious upside.
@preach: Good to have you back.
No question he was key to the downfall of Woods and Prior, but he has learned and I don’t believe was a factor in Edinsons injury. Pitching Aaron in that SD wasn’t smart but not unheard of in baseball.
Because unlike many here, I don’t believe mang’t see Dusty as a bad manager.
Does that mean Baker will get an extension during the season?
I didn’t know about the rule until Cueto pitched just over 170 innings. But the rule is that the team’s management can exclude him from pitching winter ball, not that he has to be exclded.
I gather that he is not pitching winter ball, which is good.
@GregD: I don’t think it precludes Webb at all. I mean a sinkerball pitcher of his caliber should be a target. There are going to be a lot of suitors for him this summer. I’d hope the Reds would be in on him if they are close to contention no matter what the rotation looks like in 2011 and beyond.
I’m very excited about the prospects of Chapman being in the rotation but I wouldn’t expect him to appear regularly until the 2012 season. My guess is that the way the contract is put together they will keep him from reaching arbitration until 2015. With Cueto, Volquez, Bailey and Leake they can bring him along relatively slowly, fill the fifth spot with fodder, and still have a good rotation.
@david: Yeah, add Webb to that rotation with Leake as #5 and I’ll be ready to go to battle.