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Cuban defect looks for new home in MLB
8-Nov-2009
Written by: Matt Bultman
Aroldis Chapman is one of the storylines of the 2009 MLB offseason
Now that the World Series has come to an end, speculation on next year has already begun.
One of the main question heading into the offseason is what team Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman will sign with.
Many teams are reported to have interest in the left handed pitcher, including the Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers.
The 21-year old Cuban throws in the upper 90’s and has been clocked as high as 102 miles per hour. Scouts rave about the young man’s potential, but say that he has a long ways to go, both physically and mentally, before he is ready to pitch in the major leagues.
While pitching in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Chapman showed signs of immaturity, frequently showing displeasure with umpires and often had to be calmed by his teammates. He did however show scouts the one thing they wanted to see as he hit 100 mph on a couple separate occasions.
In this year’s National Series in Cuba, Chapman struggled some, posting 4.03 ERA in 118 2/3 innings.
Chapman defected from his home country back in July while the team was playing a tournament in the Netherlands. He reportedly walked out of the team hotel, caught a cab and never returned to join his team.
The Cuban team allowed Chapman to hold onto his passport, a rarity whenever players leave the country, which allowed him to get to the United States fairly easily.
Scouts speculate that Chapman could receive a contract similar to fellow Cuban defector Jose Contreras, who signed a 4-year $30 million contract with the Yankees in 2003.
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