Aroldis Chapman, 35, of the Kansas City Royals, who was traded by the New York Yankees last year, is enjoying a resurgence.
“There is no clearer trade target than Chapman,” Major League Baseball Trade Reporters (MLBTR) said on Monday.
Kansas City is 18-44 this season. They are not likely to make the playoffs, which has led to interest from teams that are more likely to go to fall ball. According to reports, teams have been interested in Chapman since the second week of May, and Kansas City is willing to trade him.
Chapman, who made his major league debut in 2010 after defecting from Cuba, once boasted a powerful fastball that topped out at 106 miles per hour 안전놀이터 (170.6 kilometers per hour). It was the fastest fastball ever recorded in the big leagues.
He took over the closer’s role in 2012. Starting with 38 saves in his first season as a closer, Chapman reached 30 saves in five straight years. After reaching the 30-save plateau with 32 saves in 2018, Chapman followed it up with 37 saves in 2019.
His ERA rose to 3.36 in 2021, but the 30-save season was followed by a down year with the New York Yankees last year, when he went 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA in 43 games and 36 1/3 innings. Injuries and poor performance followed. This led to speculation that Chapman would no longer be a specialty closer.
But Chapman signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Kansas City Royals ahead of the season, hoping to revive his career. After making $16 million last year, Chapman cut his salary by more than a quarter.
So far, so good. His command has stabilized and his velocity has returned. In 23 starts, he’s 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings.
Chapman, who topped out at 97 mph (156.1 km/h) with the Yankees last year, has topped out at more than 99 mph (159 km/h) this year.
As the outlet notes, “Barring injury, Chapman won’t finish the season in Kansas City. There is an incentive, but it’s a reasonable one given Chapman’s salary,” the source said, adding that the decision will be made in the next two months.