Outbidding several deeper-pocketed suitors, the Reds shocked the sport with the bold acquisition of hard-throwing, Cuban defector, considered by many to be a potential ace. Multiple reports have said Chapman's deal, pending a physical, is valued at $25 million over five years, with a player option for a sixth that would push the total to $30 million.
To defray costs, the small-market Reds will pay Chapman about $1 million for 2010, with 2014 the first year that the contract will be a burden. Like third-baseman Scott Rolen's renegotiated contract earlier this offseason, the Reds received cost-certainty in this pact that may afford them flexibility to continue to add.
If the 22-year-old, whose fastball has been clocked as 100 mph, is an interesting gamble. Unlike the Angels or Red Sox, the Reds are less equipped to be wrong, from a financial standpoint. (This is a team that had to release Jonny Gomes, rather than go through arbitration where he would be guaranteed a raise. Should Chapman flame out quickly, Cincinnati will still be on the hook for the heavily back-loaded price tag.
Reds fans will likely be excited to see the flame-throwing left-hander, who comes cheaper than Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg or Japanese import Daiuske Matzusaka. The risk lies in how quickly Chapman can arrive in the major leaguers, and the question is whether the hard-throwing southpaw can overcome control issues.
With Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey, the Reds are building what could be a dominating rotation. With Chapman's potential arrival and Edinson Volquez's eventual return from Tommy John surgery, plus an offense headed by Joey Votto, Rolen, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce, Cincy is positioning themselves to challenge the Cardinals for NL Central supremacy.
He first attracted attention during the March World Baseball Classic, when he pitched well against Australia. After defecting, he established residency in Andorra so he could select his team as a free agent.
For a team like Cincinnati, which just completed its ninth straight losing season, and had its worst attendance since 1986, Chapman can't arrive soon enough. Perhaps the Reds see an opportunity to mix Chapman to win sooner, before their core players become too expensive to keep. Like Chapman's fastball, Cincinnati may see an accelerating path to the top of the standings.
