Halos Heaven has learned that pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who recently defected from Cuba, is in possession of his passport. His agent Edwin Mejia explained to Halos Heaven that this speeds up the process, "Aroldis will be ready to sign much sooner than people estimate because he defected with his passport. That makes everything much much easier and quicker."
When the Angels signed Cuban defector Kendry Morales in 2004, he did not make his professional debut at A-Ball for almost a year due to paperwork hassles in receiving Dominican citizenship and acquiring a passport.
Chapman is a 6'4" 180 Lb lefty who throws 102 MPH and has what international scouts call "the most lethal pickoff move." He struck out 79 batters in 74 IP during the 07-08 Cuban baseball season. He turns 22 in September.
Meanwhile, we also heard from Mark Mulder's agent, Greg Clifton, who confirmed that his client has garnered no interest from the Angels.
0 recs | 23 comments
Dear Mr. Moreno,
As all of your fans have seen this year, this team is in desperate need of the kind of power arm we only either read about or face. We would sincerely enjoy seeing Aroldis Chapman dawn Halo Red sometime in the near future.
Sincerely,
Angels’ fans
halofan4life - July 18, 2009
don Halo Red
(sorry to be a copy-editing asshole)
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
Youre not an asshole.
Even the most astute english students make mistakes. Thank you for pointing that out.
halofan4life - July 18, 2009
No problem if you were subconciously thinking of Dawn Wells
Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island. She was hot. And a stoner chick.
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
I always knew there was a reason I liked her most.
halofan4life - July 18, 2009
we better sign him
We’ve spent no money at all internationally this year. We didn’t spend at all the prior fe years either compared to other teams.
We spent the least amount in the draft the past two years. Even this year we have spent all that much.
We didn’t sign Tex (i’m glad).
So there is no excuse for Arte and the FO not to go full out to spend whatever it takes to get an elite potential young prospect.
Four Ts - July 18, 2009
And we better make a damn good effort at getting the Japanese-Iranian pitcher Yu Darvish
He is awesome.
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
a g r e e
There is your next record-breaking posting fee.
Rev Halofan - July 18, 2009
Yeah, but
He’s worth it. Heck they both are.
Slasher52 - July 18, 2009
HH News Network?
Rev with the SCOOPS!
Sethy - July 18, 2009
props
to WiHaloFan (Jim Gardner) who works the phones for us.
Rev Halofan - July 18, 2009
Nice one Jim!
Now get Yu Darvish on the phone for us!
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
Yu Darvish is sick (good)
Have a look at these punchouts. Ummm, Arte, some $$$ please?
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
Chapman (Avenue) has a nice Halos feel to it
highlandhalo - July 18, 2009
Good point
Let’s tell him we’ve named a street after him. That gives us a bargaining edge over the other clubs. And…his street has a bikini bar on it!
Sethy - July 19, 2009
Yu Darvish is sick (good)
well seems really are punks lol
greg09 - July 18, 2009
I love Cuban players
Hope I don’t sound racist (I am a white man)
Anyone who can suffer under communism and be focused enough to play baseball is a winner.
Let’s wrap this guy up.
F. Fidel and his brother. They are would-be Stalins but lack the power.
Sign him and ban “Che” T-shirts from our stadium.
hittheg - July 19, 2009
that is not racist
it is cubist.
Rev Halofan - July 19, 2009
40-60 million
Thats what Keith Law from ESPN expects him to get.
blb76 - July 19, 2009
Would Selig block this signing?
Rumors have it that Selig has been blocking small market teams (KC & Pitt) from signing their draft choices because of going over suggested slot bonuses. He signed off on the giants signing Buster Possey last year for 6 mil.. I know this isn’t the draft but but is this Bud’s way of keeping the large market teams on top? Better TV ratings.
calas - July 19, 2009
Is this really true? I’m all for ratings as much as league execs are, but wouldn’t it be embarrassing if you have teams like KC, Pittsburgh, and Washington (who’s in a big market, but simply suck) continue to struggle because Bud doesn’t want them to get better?
Kevin Y - July 22, 2009
Did he have the passport made in Santa Ana?
Good fakes made on the corner of McFadden and Bristol. (joke)
Downing Rules - July 20, 2009
I bet his name isn’t really “Aroldis Chapman”, and he’s really 24.
Kevin Y - July 22, 2009
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