Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban left-hander who defected earlier this summer, likely will be a coveted commodity on baseball’s free agent market during the coming off-season. Under baseball rules he and his representatives are able to negotiate a contract with any major league team.
Not sure who all will be in pursuit of the 6-3 pitcher who supposedly has thrown his fast ball over 100 miles per hour, but Tony Oliva called him a “hot tamale.” Oliva defected from Cuba about 50 years ago, became an All-Star with the Twins and still works for the organization. Oliva told Sports Headliners he doesn’t know if the Twins will be trying to sign Chapman, but he offered him some advice.
“If he wants to play in the big leagues, maybe he should take less money but go with the guy (team) that gives him the opportunity to play as soon as possible,” Oliva said. “Like the Minnesota Twins…Tampa, those kind of places.”
An ESPN The Magazine article earlier this month speculated that Chapman could receive a deal exceeding the $32 million Cuban pitcher and defector Jose Contreras signed in 2002. That’s a heady neighborhood for a guy who possibly throws harder than almost anyone on the planet, but baseball’s richer clubs most likely will be proactive. Angels’ scouting director Eddie Bane, the former Twins’ pitcher, told the Orange County Register his franchise is interested in Chapman. https://headlines.ocregister.com/sports/selects-34244-defector-angels.html
Chapman might be ready for the bigs now but there are questions about his control, ability to develop pitches in addition to the fast ball and even his age. Some reports have his age at 26, not 21.
Age discrepancies among Latin American ball players certainly aren’t unheard of. Oliva said the “bottom line is if a guy can pitch and throw,” and Chapman’s age shouldn’t deter interest.
Oliva, who knows people in Cuba familiar with Chapman, is concerned, though, about giving so much money to an unproven product. “This kid is supposed to be a great player, but it’s different pitching in Cuba,” he said. “What if he don’t make it?”