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Tim Bontemps of the New York Post says that Cuban Defector Aroldis Chapman is considering both the Yankees and Mets as possible landing spots.
Chapman’s agent, Edwin Mejia, told Bontemps that his client has met with both organizations, and that the dialogue will continue, but says his client likes New York.
In late October, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post said that the Mets were bowing out of the Chapman sweepstakes as long as his price tag is in the $60 million range.
…i don’t really know what to make of this interview…i always like young, hard throwing lefities, but i said a couple of weeks ago that this is probably not the direction the Mets should go in no matter what considering Chapman is an unknown quantity…he is a good fit on a team that can afford to take such a risk, and with the Mets rotation being in the state that it’s in today, i question whether or not the Mets can take on a large contract with so many question marks…
Update, 8:35 am:
…from what i can gather, the Mets are still very much interested in chapman, and Omar Minaya has remained in contact with his agent… there seems to be a split around the game… some people i have talked with feel he can have an immediate impact next season, others think he’ll need at least a year or two of development, but most everyone thinks he has the potential to be a very special pitcher… i have no idea where the Mets fall in on that spectrum… he wants to be a star, and so it makes sense for him to pitch in New York, and, of course, the National League is better for pitchers… but, i have to think chapman’s asking price might impact how every team treats him… i mean, that’s a pretty serious bet to make on a 20-year-old kid who has not yet pitched in the big leagues…
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This sounds to me like the agent wants other teams to think both NY teams are in it to raise the stakes. Where have we heard this before? AROD, Guererro, and others have used the Mets name to get more $$$ from other teams.
The Mets aren’t in this thing.
I’d agree, I think the big money will be spent on LF this off-season if the Mets get there way.
Matt, What do you think will be a fair contract for him, in terms of years and money?
I think it has less to do with the money he would make, and more to do with the fact that noone knows how Chapman will fare against big league hitters. If a team ponies up 60 Million they darn well ought to be able to slide him into atleast the 3 hole, but that can’t be certain with Chapman cause he’s never even faced minor league hitters let alone big league ones, If the Mets had a strong 1 through 3 rotation already set then that gamble makes sense for the Mets, but clearly that’s not the case. I think that’s what Matt is getting at.
Aren’t the Mets exactly the type of team that CAN take a risk like this? The second highest payroll in baseball…largest market in the country…we were made for Chapman.
Personal Opinion…it’s a great fit.
Totally agree. Gooden has one year in A ball and was facing MLB batters at age 19. It happens. If the scouting is that unanimous, sign him up and put him under Johan’s wing. Ollie was less of a gamble? Do it.
What I’m saying is not that we couldn’t take the risk, but that the Mets should not entertain the idea of 60 million for a pitcher who has never seen the big leagues! If they give him 60 million, what do you do with the 3,4,5 spots in the rotation? He will need (6 months minimum) in AAA? The Mets have much better things to spend that money on than a maybe he will be great and maybe he won’t player. There are just too many holes at this point to fill to take that kind of chance for that amount of money.
I think that Chapman is exactly the kind of guy the Mets need! First off and probably most important, he is YOUNG! The Mets need to continue down the path of having a young team building for the future. Pitchers that hitters are not familiar with usually have an advantage.
With Maine, Perez and Pelfrey along with Neise and Redding perhaps, the Mets have enough arms that could buy them a month if he isn’t ready to start the season in the bigs. The Mets could have his contract escalate from a low salary this year and work its way up to $12 or 15M in the later years.
He’s faced some hitters in the WBC and would be a great future staff holder with Santana, Pelfrey, Mejia and Holt (hopefully). I say the Mets should pony up for him and sign a risk/reward guy or 2 like Harden, Bedard or Sheets to incentive laden 1 year deals with options.
well it’s nice to know we are still in it
I would sign him and start him in AAA, maybe for the whole year. Let him get used to the US and the game here. If he blows away AAA, then bring him up to the majors, but at least we can get a sense of what he’s about.
Say it costs $40 million to bring in Chapman…that’s a pricey lotto ticket, but the payout could be amazing. If he truly is as good as scouts and agents make you think, I’d say the Mets should go for it. This guy would cost $25-30 million a year if he was a proven young ace (like King Felix hitting the market).
Think of all the posting / signings for unknowns that we just missed, or weren’t in on. Ichiro (supposedly we were #2), Dice-K (#2 again), Kaz Ishii (missed), Igawa (didn’t bid). Maybe it’s time we went all in and actually got lucky for a change.
Again, this comes down to the talent evaluators. Is he really as good as they say?
Excellent points Dave…the likelihood is that this guy can pitch on the Major League level. The question is how good will he be…?
Perez is being paid a handsome sum of money to be average. It’s the same money…can Chapman be better?
Doesn’t he walk as many as he strikes out? This is the kind of kid you draft, not lavish a 60 million dollar contract on.
He’s got Ollie written all over him.
is there any reason why this guy can’t be playing right now in winter ball somewhere? i don’t really know the rules about that. it just seems to me that he should be auditioning somewhere before he tries to get such a large contract. i wish the mets had that much disposable money otherwise it seems foolish to consider.
Say he plays Winter ball and hurts his elbow, he won’t get an offer at all.. As it is now, he is getting $40 million +.
You get Chapman, I’m back.
36 million (oliver perez) + 24 million (luis castillo) = 60 million dollars. Thanks Omar.