By José Alejandro Rodríguez Zas
The experienced Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman, former reliever for the New York Yankees in the Big Top, agreed this Thursday with the Kansas City Royalsfor $3.75 million in exchange for one year of service with the 2015 World Series Champion team.
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This news did not fail to surprise thousands of followers of the Antilles, who had been strongly associated with other franchises such as the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres, but it was finally the Royals who signed Chapman.
As revealed by a report from NJ.comthe signing of Aroldis with Kansas, apparently, was a personal decision by the Cuban, even leaving money on the negotiating table, as other franchises offered more for their services.
In fact, as recently published on this websiteChapman’s market value was valued by SpotRac.com at nearly $6.7 million, within the Top 5 best relievers available in free agency at the time.
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“I heard Aroldis Chapman turned down more money from the Padres to sign with the Royals for one year at $3.75 million. He wants to close and he will do it in Kansas City. The Marlins offered $2 million,” Randy Miller reported to the aforementioned outlet, while confirming that the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers also expressed interest in signing the West Indian reliever.
Undoubtedly, this was a decision that can be questioned by several specialists and fans, especially considering that the San Diego Padres are a contending and favorite team to challenge the Dodgers for the National League West Division pennant.
But based on Chapman’s experience in the Major Leagues and the number of times he has negotiated with MLB teams, a vote of confidence should be given to his decision, which should have a very solid argument.
In addition, a very personal opinion of this editor, I do not think that Aroldis is thinking about retiring at 34 years of age, or “closing” his career in MLB, but rather a first half of the MLB 2023 season with a less competitive team, it can allow him to recover his game rhythm, to climb back to the most stellar planes of relief pitching in the best baseball in the world and with a good performance, he can be a valuable game changer for the Royals towards a contending team in the second half of the fight
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Chapmann He has participated in 13 contests in the Big Top, with the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, in which he has 315 saves and a 44-35 record, with an ERA of 2.48 and a WHIP of 1.07.
In 667 games pitched, Aroldis accumulates 640 complete innings of work, 27 holds, 1045 strikeouts and is batting just .164.