Chapman open to joining Team USA for WBC
On Monday, the New York Yankees will finally get a look at their new closer. Aroldis Chapman will be eligible to join the team on May 9 after serving his 30-game suspension under the league’s new domestic violence policy. He’s spent the last few weeks working out at the team’s spring training complex in Florida.
Over the last two years Chapman has been working towards becoming a U.S. citizen, and last week he finally completed the process. He was sworn in as a citizen last Friday:
Now that he is officially a U.S. citizen, Chapman told ESPN’s Marly Rivera he is willing to pitch for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic next spring. Chapman and every other player who defected is banned from playing for the Cuban team.
Here’s more from Rivera:
Upon hearing of Becali’s comments, Chapman replied: “I am a U.S. citizen; I can play for Team USA.” and said he would welcome a call from Team USA manager Jim Leyland.
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“If [Leyland] invites me, I would love to go,” Chapman said. “I can close, but I can also go to the bullpen and throw the seventh or the eighth inning, whatever they need.”
Chapman, now 28, did pitch for Cuba in the 2009 WBC, which occurred before he defected. Here’s some video of him in action back during that 2009 tournament:
That was back when Chapman was still a starting pitcher. He defected in July 2009 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2009-10 offseason. The Yankees acquired him in a trade over the winter.
It has always been tough for WBC teams to lure top pitchers because their MLB clubs usually do whatever they can to block them from playing. They don’t want them to get hurt on someone else’s watch. I can’t say I blame them.
Chapman will be a free agent after the season and is very likely to secure a huge contract. In fact, he might break Jonathan Papelbon ‘s contract record for relievers (four years, $50 million). Whichever team signs Chapman after the season won’t love their new high-priced import spending his first spring with his new team elsewhere.
Last season Chapman saved 33 games with a 1.63 ERA (244 ERA+) and 116 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. Team USA has no shortage of quality bullpen candidates, but Chapman very well might be the best reliever in the world. He’d make any team better.