Comments on: Seeing Straight on Aroldis Chapman

By: Gerry

Gerry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:59:15 +0000

Had we signed Cliff Lee for 2-3 prospects, and with Tazawa/Bowden/Kelly/Pimental in waiting, there would be NO pressure to sign Chapman. Teixeira didn't want to sign with the Sox. IMO, for that kind of monopoly money we didn't miss much as we had Youk , more versatile and with a better OPS. However, AGon falls somewhere between Lee & Teix. He will cost more in prospects than money and, facing what could be the last year for the big bats of Mike, Tek and maybe Papi, we actually NEED that big bat for 2010, 2011+. Pujols & Mauer may be coming up for 2011, but they are phantasms compared to the reality of AGon. We missed Teix & Lee. After watching Cliff Lee tonight, I'm not sure we can afford to miss again, for either Chaps or AGon..

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:57:01 +0000

Good point. He could be a difference maker for years. He would cost a great deal even at a reasonable amount, but no prospects, and could emerge with Kelly, Pimental or whomever, in 2011-12 and join Lester, Buchholz, Tazawa. each of whom are under control for years. Don't forget the possibility of re-signing Becket, Matsuzaka, and the always full of wonders Wake. That has to be a decade of dominant pitching.

By: evanbrunell

evanbrunell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:42:03 +0000

I do want to caution, though: I far prefer saving for Mauer if it came down to it. Get Chapman or save for Mauer even if you don't get him? It's got to be the latter.

By: evanbrunell

evanbrunell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:23:26 +0000

I think the Sox will go to their level of fiscal sanity but unlike what happened with Contreras, it will be enough this time around. And Boston is one of the few — if not the only — organizations that its fans would embrace a Chapman minor league progression for 1-2 years. You then mention his need to live up to his contract after missing the first — and now possibly second — years of the deal. But the benefit is the team then has arbitration to control the player and every chance in the world to extend. There's TREMENDOUS value in that that goes unrecognized here.

By: M.A.G.

M.A.G. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:04:19 +0000

Way too much money for a prospect.

By: donna

donna — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:58:26 +0000

6 million for Jose Iglesias. i know there is that gambling mentality going on here… can we beat the other teams to these FA "prospects" but i guess there is just enough risk there that the poorer teams can kind of watch it all play out – like going with a friend to the casino and watching them blow a LOT of money !
heck, the RS rolled the dice with Lugo and who is laughing now. Even "known" players can have fluky years and /or just not "fit" within a certain team/ballpark.
i would much rather see Theo/FO spend money on folks like Mauer ( if available next year, or even to give up prospects + cash -ext contract b4 trade scenario) than take a very expensive risk with Chapman.
Dice-K was a very expensive risk but has other upsides beside the wins he HAS posted… like market share in Japan ( …would love to see numbers on what the Sox raked in on merch over there since the Matsuzaka signing…). Chapman could be a very expensive pursuit which could result in a) a coup – he IS awesome and is CY Young material for many years, or b). he sucks and RS eat a huge risk sandwich which ties their hands financially. All this going on and i start to think about salary caps and ways to make the playing field somehow more even. With the cap in the NFL how is it that some teams still are getting the job done and others aren't?

By: UVMike

UVMike — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:05 +0000

I agree, I would be comfortable signing him if we wouldnt have to pay him 10 million a year to develop in our farm system, which would be in both his best interest and ours. I hope we pass unless its a much more reasonable price.

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:17:50 +0000

I find it amazing that guys like Strasburg and Chapman can command so much money without even throwing a major league pitch. Of course Strasburg was rumored to be wanting 30mill+ (if I remember correctly) and that didn't happen, so perhaps Chapman's supposed price is inflated as well.