Buzz: Chapman Considering Mets and Yankees
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…
