Chapman fires agent; joins Hendricks Bros.
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If you’re looking for things that might help the Yankees end up signing Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, here’s a tiny nugget: Chapman has dropped his original agent, Edwin Mejia, and joined up with Randy and Alan Hendricks, who represent – among others – Andy Pettitte.
The timing for Chapman’s decision is a little surprising considering Mejia did guide him through the post-defection process and helped him earn free agent status with MLB, but Chapman has opted to go with a more established agency. It’s possible that Chapman was interested in the Hendricks agency because they represent Angels first baseman Kendry Morales, another Cuban defector. The Yankees have worked with the Hendricks Bros., who also represented Roger Clemens, on numerous deals.
Chapman is 21 years old and his fastball has been clocked at over 100 mph. The Yankees and Red Sox are said to lead the pack of teams interested in him.
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on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 2:13 pm by Sam Borden.
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Chad Jennings
This could get interesting…
Sucks for the agent that was fired. He would of made some money.
The yanks generated tons of $ from winning the world series. No reason cashman shouldn’t sign him…
That agent got screwed, set him up and was left high and dry.
I can’t believe that the Sox are interested in him. They’re such a small market team, how can they ever compete against the evil Yankee empire.
/sarcasm
This guy could have me for an agent and he would still get a ton of money. What an ungrateful bastard.
signs of lack of character…?
don’t know about this player. And yes i know he throws 100+ mph
I would rather overpay in dollars for Chapman than overpay in prospects for Halladay (without equating the two) in terms of talent and readiness to contribute.
“signs of lack of character…?”
Why would you say that? He is 20 y.o. or so, and has nobody advising him besides his agent. He grew up in a communist country and probably has very little to no understanding of the process he is dealing with right now. Maybe he panicked that things weren’t moving, others have stated that Meija was trying to get him to go to Boston for less(unsubstantiated). Maybe the Hendricks made him promises like he has never heard before, and they have the track record to back it up. Either way, I would have to see much more before determining whether he has character issues.
“signs of lack of character…?
don’t know about this player. And yes i know he throws 100+ mph”
Maybe it’s the agent with the lack of character?
Amazing how many people want to disparage a guy they know nothing about.
People fire agents all the time. A-Rod fired Boras after Boras helped him get the largest contract ever in baseball. Guys he has a lack of character as well?
people who dont know the situation shouldnt be sayin “lack of character”…yaa his agent helped him out, but maybe his agent wanted 90% of contract…extreme yes, but just proving you dont know the circumstances.
i’d rather have Doc. (prospects included ).
I think it’s a sign of character strength. If you aren’t happy with your agent then make the change before a deal is done. It’s not like the current agent won’t be paid for services rendered to this point.
Mike R
i’d rather have Doc. (prospects included ).
__
Name names.
slow your roll…
yes i typed the words ‘lack of character’. Perhaps you didn’t see the question mark at then end of the sentence. Did not make any difinitive statement one way or the other.
lighten the helll up
slow your roll?
“Lack of character” made more sense.
Imagine you are Mejia, you help this guy defect, you stay in Europe with him, you handle all media contact, you get him citizenship, in Andorra, a tax shelter. You then take him to the US, take him to the Yankee postseason, several interviews, etc. Then just when free agency begins, he dumps you. How would you feel? I’d feel betrayed, used, shafted.
The guy pitched for the Cuban national team, traveled, showed up to places “all blinged out”. I get the impression that he is not some naive cuban farm boy.
I stand by my previous statement.
Anyway, he throws hard but doesn’t have the greatest control, and worse yet has no other pitches that have been described as anything better than mediocre. MLB hitters can hit hard fastballs. See Kyle Farnsworth.
Mejia should understand that he lacks experience in negotiating MLB contracts and that Chapman wanted top tier representation.
Chapman is a project but he almost certainly isn’t Krazy Kyle.
I think very few, if any, teams envision Chapman starting for them before mid-season at the earliest. It is understood that he needs polishing and work on control and secondary pitches.
If the Yanks sign him, I wouldn’t expect to see him in the majors before mid 2011. Other teams, probably sooner. That may end up being the toughest obstacle for the Yanks to overcome in pursuit of Chapman.
The Chapman signing would have nothing to do with Hallyday negotiations.
Chapman is basically a high first round draft pick that the Yankees can acquire without having to deal with the draft.
He’s a prospect. He would not be signed to be counted on for a rotation spot next season.
Hallyday is a completely different animal. He’s the bomb we drop on the rest of the league for the next few seasons. Adding him to this rotation while Mo, Posada and Jeter are still viable and effective makes the the team a powerhouse the next 2-3 years at least.
I think the Yankees have to sign Chapman. With all this talk about Selig trying to push through the draft slotting and pretty much ending the paying over slot advantage the large market teams have, it’s imperative to get top of the draft type arms and players while we still can with money.
“Chapman is a project but he almost certainly isn’t Krazy Kyle”
————————————-
I have a positive bias towards Cuban baseball and it’s players (partly due to El Duque). In short, i love Cuban baseball. Yet we really don’t know if this is the case or not. The sample size of him in the WBC was very limited and with the exception of velocity not overly impressive. When compared to someone like Dice K, who put on a clinic at the WBC 3 years before
There’s a reason why Mejia has never had a major league client and until he gets better, and perhaps stops trying to talk everyone into being Pats fans, people will keep leaving him when he doesn’t get things done on the major league level.
“I think the Yankees have to sign Chapman. With all this talk about Selig trying to push through the draft slotting and pretty much ending the paying over slot advantage the large market teams have, it’s imperative to get top of the draft type arms and players while we still can with money”
—————————————
G Love, if the signing of Chapman was in a vaccum i would completely agree. As it stands, i am on the fence. This is what concerns me: if NYY signs Chapman, how does it effect their budget for other prospective IFA’s in the next few years, and also the amateur draft???
people can speculate all they want, the answer to the above question. However only Cashman, and the Steinbrenners know the answer to this question. In fact, Cashman himself may not even know at this point right now.
in short, i don’t like the idea of putting all my eggs in one basket (30 million) for this player, if it limits them from pursuing other IFA’s in the next couple years and continuing to be aggressive in the amateur draft.
p.s. i want the yankees to uncover the next Vlad in the IFA ranks. I want NYY to be the team that gets the next 5-tool OF’er
Mejia wasn’t “helping” Chapman out of the goodness of his heart. Chapman owes him nothing, and dumping him for the Hendricks’ bros at least shows he has some sense.
Obviously 4th and 2 from their own 28 had a major effect on young Chapman.
Chapman defected from Mejia.
Damn, that kid is really good at defecting.
vinny-b
“p.s. i want the yankees to uncover the next Vlad in the IFA ranks. I want NYY to be the team that gets the next 5-tool OF’er.”
Here’s a 24 yo young lefty on a team with 4 other outfielders who can play. Work on a trade for Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/p.....09/1103728
Chapman will need 1 1/2 to 2 years in the minors. I’m only interested in him for <25M
I have to say this.
Every time I see ARoldis, I think of the anagram “Rolaids.”
Sounds like he’s going to be a closer.
raymagnetic
November 21st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I can’t believe that the Sox are interested in him. They’re such a small market team, how can they ever compete against the evil Yankee empire.
/sarcasm
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Gammons said yesterday in an article that the Red Sox are like the Marlins, trying to compete with the Yankees.
No sarcasm from Peter, either.
yankee trader:
thank you for the link. He looks to be a very impressive player. In my post was referring to IFA. However, this would work too : )
Sign him
CR9,
I read the article today, which is where my sarcasm stems from.
It’s quite funny reading Gammons crying over how poor and small market the Red Sox are.
I think that the Matsui decision will rest a lot on what the brass thinks of Miranda. Does he project to put up say 20HR/.800 OPS against both lefties and righties? If yes then there’s your DH at a cost of $500k/year and the $s saved can be spent elsewhere. Does anyone think (or do the Yanks think) these #s are achievable by him?
Before Chapman is further skewered,How does anyone know what the 1st agent said or did that might’ve spooked him.We don’t know?
What IF Andy’s agent is willing to take less in fees?
Boras could easily get 7-10% but charges(last I read) gets about 3.5%.
I kind of doubt that Mejia would not have taken less in fees while he is trying to get his foot in the door. And Chapman sells himself, just let the bids come in. Poor Mejia, it’s like not being able to get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job.
This is why the draft has to be retooled.When an unkown draftee,can command 50mm.
All Star player like,Halladay,Felix Hernandez,Lincecum Greinke,Papelbon,Lester,Pedroia,AdamWainwright,Lester,
Beckett,et al al,who are proven,aren’t getting that.
A draftee is NOT A FREE AGENT,nor should they be recruited with pay as if they are.He’s a raw product now.That’s what’s wrong.
Who wouldn’t take any of the ABOVE named PROVEN FREE AGENTS,that have tangible(measurable) records,right now over Chapman?
raymagnetic: ‘A-Rod fired Boras after Boras helped him get the largest contract ever in baseball.’
Would Arod really have needed an agent – any agent – after signing a contract of that magnitude?
And I’m pretty sure that was a charade to improve Arod’s public image. ‘It’s not me – it’s my greedy agent!’
Alex never fired Boras. He worked the deal with the Yanks himself but Boras still gets his commission. Scott is still Alex’s agent today.
I like Chapman but i’m not sure he is ready for Yankees.
If possible i want a trade for dominant pitcher, this my favorite: Felix, Verlander, Grienke and Halladay in this order for stuff and age.
I propose this trade: Joba-Melky-Aceves-mid prospect for Verlander-Ordonez(bad contract fro Tigers).
Is possible for your?
Excuse me for my english.
Sounds a bit traitorous on Chapman’s part.
This guy already had question marks about his character with a track record of tantrums and disrepect for coaches and umps. He also can’t hit the strike zone. The salary figures from his former agent sounded insane for a guy like that. Just cause he throws 100, we don’t need a 100-mph kei igawa. Only pay him a value that makes sense. Don’t be so scared of the red sux.