Both the Royals and Padres have some level of interest free-agent lefty Aroldis Chapman, tweets Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. This comes just one day after the Marlins were also reported to have interest in the former Yankees, Cubs and Reds closer.
The 2022 season was a rough one for Chapman, who’ll turn 35 next month. The lefty’s fastball, which once averaged better than 101 mph, dropped to a 97.5 mph average in 2022. Simultaneously, his command troubles spike to their worst levels since back in 2011. Chapman’s 26.9% strikeout rate in 2022 was better than league-average but still a career-low by a wide margin, and he walked a massive 17.5% of his opponents, which is the second-worst mark of his career.
Chapman’s 4.46 ERA was passable but nevertheless the highest of his career, and he missed six weeks of the season with an Achilles injury in addition to a roughly three-week absence owing to a leg infection related to a recent tattoo he’d received. He was also left off the Yankees’ postseason roster after skipping a team workout
Kansas City has taken its share of low-cost gambles on former high-profile closers in recent years, inking Trevor Rosenthal prior to the 2020 season and also bringing former K.C. stars Wade Davis and Greg Holland back for buy-low reunion tours. Chapman would be a page out of a similar playbook.
With just an $85MM projected payroll (via Roster Resource) and plenty of uncertainty behind closer Scott Barlow, the Royals represent a sensible enough on-paper fit. They already have three potential southpaws for the ’pen, with Amir Garrett, Anthony Misiewicz and Richard Lovelady on hand, but Misiewicz does have a pair of minor league option years remaining. And, if Chapman were able to bounce back into form, he could potentially be someone they look to flip to another club as the trade deadline draws nearer.
As for the Padres, nary a free agent with any name value passes by without being connected to them. The Friars already have a deep bullpen, headlined by Josh Hader, Robert Suarez, Luis Garcia and a hopefully healthy Drew Pomeranz, but Chapman would add another big arm to the mix. Ownership and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller have shown a clear affinity for high-profile stars in recent years, even if some of those name-brand players have been past their peak production.
Then again, they’re also already sitting on a $251MM payroll, and Chapman could push them into the third tier of luxury penalization, given the projected $270.6MM currently on their luxury ledger. In terms of monetary penalization, the jump from adding Chapman likely wouldn’t be large. The Padres would pay a 42% tax on every dollar up to $273MM in luxury obligations, and that number would jump to 75% thereafter. However, presuming Chapman won’t command much more than a few million dollars on a one-year rebound deal, that sum won’t be particularly burdensome.
That said, there’s a greater cost to consider if the Padres want to continue spending in free agency. Exceeding the luxury tax threshold by more than $40MM also results in a team’s top pick in the subsequent year’s draft pushed back by 10 places. Tacking on even a $3MM salary for Chapman would come with something like $4MM in costs between his salary and luxury tax penalties, but would more importantly drop the Padres out of the top 30 in the 2024 draft while also reducing the size of their bonus pool. Further trades, of course, could always alter that calculus, but the Padres were recently reported to be approaching a “self-prescribed” spending limit. It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the point at which payroll begins to detrimentally impact future drafts is indeed that limit.
While much of the free-agent market moved at an accelerated pace this offseason, the market for left-handed relievers has been curiously slow. Taylor Rogers took until late December to land his three-year deal with the Giants, and Chapman joins the likes of Andrew Chafin, Matt Moore, Will Smith, Brad Hand and Zack Britton as a southpaw reliever of note that has yet to sign a team for the 2023 season.
Big whiffa
Wow! I can’t believe Chapman is still out there. He’s as likely a bounce back candidate as any player in the league
This one belongs to the Reds
I’m with you, whiffa. Of course we know who will whiffa on this one!
BaseballFan 2001
Dbacks should atheist make an offer
Poster formerly known as . . .
I don’t think they need to bring their religious beliefs into it.
JeffreyChungus
Dbacks already have Christian Walker. I don’t think the two beliefs would mix
Poster formerly known as . . .
But Seth Beer might at least get the two sides talking.
CarverAndrews
Technically speaking…lack of beliefs.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Practically speaking, atheism is as much a creed as other beliefs.
CarverAndrews
Basically got me there… ; )
Rsox
“Defected from Cuba, wanted religious freedom”
“What’s his religion?”
“Voodoo”
Joe says...
He’s washed up. His stats went to crap after they cracked down on spider tack. He also quit on his team.
Poster formerly known as . . .
He was still in the 96th percentile in FB velocity and the 81st percentile in FB spin rate, Joe. With some effective coaching and an attitude adjustment, he could rebound and prove to be a bargain — just not with the Yankees, where he burned the bridge.
oneiblnd
That’s a lot of his problem. He overthrows the strike zone and doesn’t a reliable breaking pitch.
Joe says...
Can he take coaching though? Word is he has always done his own thing but the Yankees let it slide because he was pitching at an elite level. If he goes somewhere where he can close games without worry of losing his role, there might be a small uptick in his numbers but not much. He also quit on his team. To me, there’s no coming back from that.
Friarguy19
Attitude adjustment being the key. He won’t close for us. If he can wrap his head around that, great.
Poster formerly known as . . .
I think he probably can. He already lost his closer job to Clay Holmes, and this is how he reacted publicly:
“I’m past that point in my career in which I would fight for a role, for the closer role, I’ve already gone through that. When I got to the major leagues, they gave me the opportunity to close and I took advantage of the opportunity. Pretty much the same thing is happening to (Holmes). If he has that role, it is because he is doing well. I am here, trying to recover, come back, be well, healthy, help the team in any way, in any role. (Holmes) is doing an excellent job right now and I think he deserves the role that he has.”
chemfinancing
Kimbrel was washed up at one point
AmericanRedneck
Was?
CarverAndrews
And I am really hoping that he is out of the shower and ready for a renewed version of the old Kimbrel for a season or two. At least while we are paying him.
chemfinancing
His resurgent season with Chicago prompted his trading to the other Chicago team you teddy chillerbear
pbfog
I mean if he shows up.
CaptainJudge99
See ya Chappy!
gorav114
I’d rather make Trevor Bauer my teams captain and ambassador than sign Chapman to the minimum.
CaptainJudge99
You can definitely have Bauer. Chappy would definitely help a team like the Padres, who will for sure contend in the NL West.
gorav114
Osuna would probably help a team too that doesn’t make it a good signing
AJ the Rastaman
LMAO… i’d rather have bauer too. chapman is utter & thorough trash – as a person and now a pitcher too.
AmericanRedneck
This guy gets it. Agreed, wholeheartedly.
CarverAndrews
@GoRav – Why?
BaseballisLife
Gorav, AR, and cornwhisperer pretty much only comment on comments made by those 3 accounts. Pretty sure they are one person.
gorav114
I can assure you I only have one account. I’ve posted under the same name since MLBTR first became a thing. I have no weird racist agenda. I am not rooting for Trevor Bauer as a person. I am not rooting for Chapman as a person or a baseball player
Samuel
GoRav114;
Who wrote or implied that you have a “weird racist agenda.”?
gorav114
Baseballislife tied me in with two other commenters that he accused of such
gorav114
Chapman is a worse dirtbag. Abandoned his pregnant girl in Cuba and refuses to pay any support even though he acknowledged it’s his kid. Then in the US he choked out his young girlfriend while he was like 30. Ditched the Yankees this past season. One crappy thing after another with this guy.
Deleted Userr
Funny that BaseballisLife is accusing you of using multiple accounts when he clearly does that (Pads Fans, outinleftfield, websoulsurfer and PLTuna). Guess when someone makes a comment like that it is because they are projecting what they do onto others.
CarverAndrews
This might be a good way for him to wind things down. Lots of years in the high pressure NY marketplace, and as he declines it becomes difficult to navigate for the aging former star.
Head to the Marlins or Royals, and perhaps he gives them a real boost and he feels as if he has a fresh start again. Maybe it extends his career and he has more fun playing ball without the overwhelming urgency. Heck in FLA, there are fewer fans at the game than are media members sitting in the press box at Yankees Stadium.
Of course, he has to show up for practice and avoid the tattoo parlor in-season. And avoid leaving the team in September because he is used to playing on a winner so he might as well go home.
Poster formerly known as . . .
I think Miami would be the best place for him. He has a Florida home, there’s a big Cuban community in Miami, and it’s a pitcher’s park.
dirkg
The baseball world we live in: the article demerits Chapman for having his average fastball “drop” to 97.1 mph.
dirkg
Check that: 97.5 mph.
Old York
Don’t worry, with advancements in science, we’ll one day see someone throw a 200mph FB and someone will connect on it. Just watch out in the stands. Might need to put up netting all around the spectator section.
StudWinfield
Good luck with that. The only plus tool he has left is himself.
AmericanRedneck
They should sign Bauer, he could indeed help solidify a bullpen by having a great starter, thus less need for the back-end of a pen. Remember when Chapman was arrested for firing a gun during a domestic dispute, yet a rough consensual relationship between a man and woman where no such arrest took place, is frowned upon? Is this based on the whole equity thing I hear so much about? Seems like it, as the content of ones character doesn’t seem to matter as much as their complexion; at least in this brave new world we’re descending into.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Still at it, eh? And seriously trying to make an invidious comparison between a knucklehead who locked himself in his garage and shot his pistol, hurting no one and likewise not charged with any crime, and a sicko who needs to beat up women to get it up. As long as your boy is white, it’s all good, right?
Your obvious fear that white supremacy might be waning is pathetic.
AJ the Rastaman
gosh… can’t ever avoid the whole white supremacy nonsense from another single brain cell graduate from the White Guilt Academy. lol.
Poster formerly known as . . .
STFU, Ernest.
Poster formerly known as . . .
And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
AJ the Rastaman
& my true characterizations of you & your white guilt infested type… i meant in the most degrading, insulting way. kisses!
Poster formerly known as . . .
Aw, I’z just joshin’ y’all. I apologize for insulting you, but it made me laugh to picture you as Jim Varney.
CarverAndrews
Yo’ Redneck: In a giving mood, I would try to grant that you are simply being tongue-in-cheek about the whole Bauer issue. Then, I realize that would probably be far too difficult a concept for you to grasp.
This thread has nothing to do with Bauer, sexual abuse or racism. You are the only one celebrating all three of them as a noble cause.
Poster formerly known as . . .
The Bauer promotional posts are this guy’s hobbyhorse.
cornwhisperer
So I guess it goes against the grain to say that both of these guys are low character goons then, eh? Because that’s all it is, essentially. Two entitled multi millionaires whose livelihoods likely would have been reduced to working at WalMart for the things they’ve done, but as long as they can help a ball club, let’s make moral judgments as to which is more worthy
I’ll stick to baseball
Both guys can help a ball club in contention, no doubt about it
Bauer likely brings more baggage for the PR department to deal with, that’s all
As for Chapman, yes, 97 mph is nothing to sneeze at. Hope he lands somewhere so I can continue to root against a guy who’s been a career-long head hunter on the mound
Hope that criticism is “baseball” enough
CarverAndrews
I don’t know if they have the capability on this forum to do this, but when you have idiots like that who do nothing but spout that nonsense, they should ban them by IP address.
It is one thing to come on here and try to participate, and occasionally go down a dark road. But posters like that are doing nothing but driving without headlights in a pitch black tunnel of their own making.
kcmark
Chapman is at least liked by some of his teammates. Nobody like Bauer.
Joe says...
kcmark, after quitting on his team at playoff time, I expect Chapman burned as many bridges with teammates as he did with with the team.
cornwhisperer
I was around to see the “mean streaks” of guys like Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale and Nolan Ryan. They threw to every corner and would knock a guy down who was leaning over the plate or digging in. And they protected teammates who got hit or were knocked down
Hard to see many people liking Chapman, a guy who too many times has hit batters with his 100 mph fastball just for the sake of doing it. Even Pedro was more of an old school throwback than this guy.
Nice guy to have on your team when he was in his prime and you needed leads protected. But in a baseball sense, the definition of the word “goon”
CarverAndrews
@Cornwh – No, not against the grain – at least on this specific matter. I don’t think that many people are enthused with Chapman’s domestic track record either. Not the personality or track record that I want for my team. Bauer is simply much more recently in the news cycle, and truly comes across in every way as the even bigger a-hole.
There is an unfortunate reality. If Bauer or Chapman or a number of others, when their issues came out, were fringe roster players trying to work their way in, we would have never seen them in the game again.
AJ the Rastaman
annnnnd you also can’t go 1.5 secs without some dillhole in favor of censorship. go ahead and say (my brain is) carved… free speech isn’t free! LMAO.
Deadguy
Redneck lol what did ya run outta beer? Drunkness don’t cover that redneck?
Thought yall were all about ur 2nd amendment?
Chapman don’t get a second amendment?
And where in the constitution does it say:
BEAT UR WIFE?
Go suit up in a white beater and crack open a six pack at your home trailer stupid ass
AJ the Rastaman
hey hippy… lay off the crack pipe.
chemfinancing
Yanks making a mistake not bring him back
dirkg
Boone and Cashman are done with Chapman in pinstripes. You can bank on that.
mils100
For Chapman, his best value is going someplace where he can close. San Diego isnt it. Just seemed like you never quite knew what pitcher you were getting each time out. The control was sporadic but also his velocity. Think more likely he continues a mild decline than becomes a top reliever again.
Simm
If the padres are serious about signing Chapman and all his baggage they might at as well sign Bauer instead. At least they could use him.
Brew’88
Not a lot of evidence that the Pads have strong interest, and it’s unlikely Chapman would have interest in middle relief, which is where he’d land in SD bullpen, but a there are lot of advantages (to writers) to suggesting that the Pads are interested.
The one remaining piece the Pads must acquire is a proven SP, not a pricey middle RP.
Mikenmn
Chapman was very hard to watch last year. You’d send him out there.and have no idea if he could get the ball over the plate. He still throws hard, hitters didn’t make a lot of contact, but…
CarverAndrews
It took awhile, but the Phils got Jose Alvarado to find just enough command to become a real weapon, and now they are trying to repeat the same thing with Gregory Soto. Perhaps if Chapman wants to sign a minor league deal so that he has access to the machine…
…yes, I am kidding.
Jordan 5
Lol who aren’t the padres linked too?
rocky7
My thoughts exactly……what a joke!
Buzz Killington
Can we just take a moment to remember how stupid the Reds were to trade him. Literally no one would have cared about his suspension if he stayed on the Reds and everyone forgot anyways when he was throwing over 100mph.
Deadguy
I think it’s pretty awesome he went to LA and did it to the wrong lady, f Trevor Bauer, he’s gonna get whats coming to him
Someone should make a shirt that says “let some fool with a STD do it” and put Trevor Bauers face on it center cut
Gwynning
I could be wrong but I think Buzz is talking about Aroldis…
BaseballisLife
Royals signed high moral standing former star relievers. Doubt Chapman is on their radar.
angt222
Honestly feel like Chapman’s attitude has held him back more so than his recent command issues. Teams struggle to put stock into a guy that’s willing to walk away from the team.
TDR
As a Padre fan I’d rather roll with Castillo at this point. Chapman is a quitter, domestic abuser and washed up.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
He hasn’t been the same since Joe Maddon overused him in the world series. I hope he bounces back.
Deadguy
Karma
Gwynning
Yanks fans chime in, should we? Yay or nay? I’d love to hear what y’all think. Aloha!
sdpadsfan11
No on Chapman. Padres need SP not a clubhouse cancer.
ctbronx7
This is one free agent Yankees fans are happy to see leaving.
BallBag
Why is it okay to vy for Chapman’s services while Bauer is ostracized?
CrikesAlready
Maybe because Bauer is a white man who was with a groupie/ex-Padres employee. Oh and he was outspoken about the commissioner.
PS There’s a video proving her lies… (Of them, in bed, the morning after.) It has been ignored by the collusionists in the MLB ranks
AJ the Rastaman
the last person i want on my team is a locker room cancer & diva. this dude is a total unprofessional, sulks. and oh BTW doesn’t get people out anymore. HOW ABOUT A HARD PASS ON THIS TOOL AJ.
BenBenBen
If you’re gonna start a sentence with “and,” you don’t need a dang comma after it.