During their heydays in the late 1990's, the Yankees made a pitch for a young man who defected for Cuba. That young man was named Orlando "el Duque" Hernandez; the reliable right hander with his trademark high leg kick became a key element in the Yankees run at four world championships in five years from 1996 to 2000. Now, it appears, the Bronx Bombers are on the verge of signing yet another Cuban defector.
On the 4th of July, Aroldis Chapman left the Cuban national team; nobody had any idea as to his whereabouts. As it turned out, some 10 days after his disappearance, Chapman was discovered, incommunicado in Europe with his agent, Leonel Majia.
What makes Chapman so special are three things: 1) he is a left- handed pitcher, 2) he is a left-handed pitcher who can throw a baseball up to 100 mph. 3) he is a young left-handed pitcher who is only 21-years-old. How many 21 year old, left handed pitchers can you think of that can throw a baseball in the high 90's? Johan Santana comes to mind, and, well, that is about it.
Chapman went 24-21 with a 3.72 ERA in his Cuban career and went 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in this years WBC.
According to the New York Post, don't expect to see Chapman in America for the stretch run this season. He still has to clear the legal hurdles of becoming a U.S. citizen. "He's probably a minimum six months away. He has to establish residence, clearance. He's probably getting signed sometime in the summer of next year," one unnamed American League source told the Post.
The Yankees will more than likely be in the running for his services. They could use a starter, considering Andy Pettitte's age, Joba Chamberlain's inconstancy and the strange evaporation of Chein-Ming Wang's mojo.
The Post speculates that the Red Sox and Mets could also be in the running for Chapman when he is ready to come to the States, legally, to pitch. If either the Yankees or Mets could get him, it might be the steal of the 2009-2010 off-season.
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