Aroldis Chapman's Signing Sends Positive Message To Reds Fans

Maybe the Reds haven't given up on 2010. As an extremely dull offseason rolled on something happened.

The Reds forgot about their mid-market status and splurged on a player that the Red Sox, Angels, or Yankees usually sign.

The Reds made an extremely high-risk, high-reward move that has the potential to either turn the franchise around—or bury them into the only place they haven't hit yet—below the Pirates. The Reds are investing a big piece of its franchise on the left arm of a 22 year-old kid from Cuba.

So $30 million later, Aroldis Chapman is a Cincinnati Red. He's a lefty and reportedly throws a 100 mph heater. The Reds haven't had a decent lefty since the 90's. But the Reds actually have a rich history with players from Cuba.

One of the greatest position players in Reds history is Cuban native Tony Perez, the only Cuban-born major league player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was elected in 2000. In 1911, the first two Cubans to play major league baseball both played for the Reds—Rafael Almeida and Armando Marsans, who was a star.

So in a way, the historical implications make sense, and the oldest professional franchise cares a heck of a lot about its history. But reports of wildness scared away other suitors. He has allowed 200 walks in just over 400 innings of work in Cuba. He is compared to a young Randy Johnson—wildness and all.

Several scouts call Chapman, “A can’t miss,” and even though he isn’t ready to step into the Cincinnati rotation, he probably isn’t far away once he can tighten up his control.

Bryan Price, in his first year as the Reds’ pitching coach, knows what kind of chance he’s getting.

“These opportunities don’t come along too often,” he said. ”Young, left-handers who throw hard are a commodity in our sport, especially ones who are around the plate.”

Chapman’s agent cited the fact that Price and manager Dusty Baker speak Spanish as a factor in signing with the Reds.

The signing of Chapman also means Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo will most likely not be back for 2011.

Both are in the last year of their contracts, with options for 2011. The Reds could use the payroll flexibility and if all goes well, Chapman and first-round pick Mike Leake pitches to this potential, both will be in the rotation, along with Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey for 2011.

GM Walt Jocketty, who admits to the riskiness of the signing sums up the move:

“For us to compete in the market size we’re in, we have to do some things like this from time to time—a bold move. We can’t go after the high-priced free agents who are out there. This is stretched out over a long period of time. It’s a significant undertaking for this organization. But it’s something we felt we had to do. There’s a big upside.”

You have to applaud Jocketty for working with the payroll he has been given, but will it pay off? Will more Reds fans go to games this year? Will the Reds sell thousands of Chapman jerseys in 2010? Will team leaders Arroyo and Harang look at this as a precursor to their eminent departure?

This is the kind of move that will make or break Jocketty. This is the move that will let fans know there is some ray of hope. Before the signing, there was no hope going into 2010. There wasn't even a chance that they would be .500. Now there is at least a reason to be optimistic about the Cincinnati Reds.

At the very least the Reds helped Cincinnati fans brighten up a bit a day after the neighbors across the street blew a golden opportunity against a rookie QB.