Marlins Miss Out on Chapman Sweepstakes; Pitcher Signs with Reds

[Big Z]

The Marlins have also sent a representative to Houston to check out free agent left-hander Arolis Chapman on Tuesday afternoon.
Marlins vice president of player personnel Dan Jennings is heading down for the workout. The budget-conscious Fish probably won't even make a bid on the highly touted 21-year-old Cuban defector, but it certainly doesn't hurt to look. The Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Astros, Rangers, Orioles and Athletics are also expected to attend Chapman's short throwing session.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Related: Angels, Orioles, Red Sox, Marlins, Yankees

[Fritz]

Why waste the plane fare? Loria could use that money to buy himself and Samson a lunch.

[Chewford]

I might be heading to Houston later this week. I should check out this guy's stuff. I don't have enough money to sign him, nor do I have a baseball team to employ him on, but I have about the same chance of signing him as the fish so I might as well see what's got too.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

If I knew where he was throwing, I could go check him out.

[MiamiHomer]

Why even report this news then?

[Ralph]

This regime hasn't made a big money signing in the international market, but from what I understand their interest in Chapman is legit. Jennings being dispatched to watch him throw speaks to that. It's still a long way from signing him, especially since the Marlins don't figure to remain in the hunt long if Chapman's price escalates too high. ESPN's Jorge Arangure last week from the winter meetings estimated Chapman would sign for around $20 million. He reported this week that the Red Sox made a $15.5 million offer before Chapman switched his representation to Houston-based Randy and Alan Hendricks.

Sun Sentinel

[MiamiHomer]

20 years 20mil get it done.

[Big Z]

Sun Sentinel

Wonder how many years, probably 3 yrs 15.5 Mil

[tjfla]

So we have 2 options

#1 Loria sent Jennings to take some pictures and then he is gonna PAY someone famous to paint him a picture for Loria's collection Instead of paying a guy 20 million to pitch we will pay a guy 3 million to paint him

#2 Jennings is gonna tell him we have a great Cuban fan base and we love you but we cant afford 2 million dollars.Then through a translator Chapman will say 20 million and Jennings will say I meant that.

What a waste of time

[Bobbob1313]

Zing!

[Beef]

u showed them WHO is boss

[Sashimi]

So basically if he ends up looking bad and the big boys back off, then we might have a chance.

[FishFanInPA]

April Fools?

[geemoney]

Yeah, this doesn't make a lot of sense. Why would they even entertain the idea of signing someone to a big contract at this point without Johnson being signed long-term? And this guy, with no MLB track record? And we don't give out long-term contracts to pitchers generally? I think Jennings just wanted a vacation.

[MiamiHomer]

Maybe it's a crappy way of showing the fan base the organization is at least interested in this supposedly very good Cuban pitcher and we might try to get him. I don't know, I'm probably way off.