Position: LHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 235 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 02/28/1988
Country: Cuba
Signed: International Free Agent, 2010 (Reds)
How Acquired: Free Agent
Bonus: $10,250,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: N/A
Overview
For much of his career, Chapman has been MLB’s most dominant reliever. He throws a fastball that has registered a record 105.1 mph and averaged over 100 mph for several seasons. Since 2018, the pitch has averaged a little over 98, but in 2023 it increased to 99.6, one of the higher averages he’s had. Chapman also throws a devastating slider. The two pitches have consistently ranked at or near the top in MLB in whiff rates, producing a career K/9 of 14.8.
Chapman defected from Cuba on his second try and, in 2010, signed a six-year, major league contract with Cincinnati worth $30.25M. The Reds initially tried to develop him as a starter, but in 2011 they moved him to the bullpen and he’s never started a major league game. He served as a closer from 2012-21, then moved mostly to a setup role. For most of his career, Chapman had only mild problems with walks, but control has been a bigger issue since 2021 and he’s averaged 5-6 walks per nine innings. For his career, opponents have managed just a .165 average and .533 OPS against him. He’s been surprisingly durable, going out with injuries from time to time, but rarely for very long.
The Pirates signed Chapman to a one-year deal for 2024 worth $10.5M.
2010-11
Chapman spent most of 2010 in AAA, starting and relieving. He got into 15 late-season games with the Reds and was very effective. He opened 2011 with the Reds, but missed time in May and June with shoulder inflammation. He still got into 54 games with Cincinnati and was very hard to hit, but had a BB/9 of 7.4.
2012-15
From 2012 through 2015, Chapman had a dominant run as the Reds’ closer, saving between 33 and 38 games each year. His control was passable and he put up a minimum K/9 of 15.0 every year. In 2014, he was out until mid-May after being hit in the head by a line drive during spring training. After the 2015 season, the Reds traded Chapman to the Yankees for four prospects.
2016-21
Chapman was suspended for 30 games at the start of 2016 season due to an alleged domestic violence incident, although he wasn’t charged with a crime. Once activated, he continued to dominate as the Yankees’ closer in 2016. The team, though, was having a disappointing season and Chapman was eligible for free agency after the season. The Yankees traded him to the Cubs in July and he had a 1.01 ERA as the Cubs’ closer the rest of the season. After the season, Chapman became a free agent and signed a five-year, $86M contract with the Yankees.
From 2017 through 2021, Chapman served as the Yankees’ closer, continuing to put up impressive numbers with the except of the pandemic season in 2020. He missed much of the shortened season after contracting COVID and pitched in only 13 games. Chapman also missed a month in 2017 with shoulder inflammation and a month in 2018 with left knee tendinitis.
In 2022, Chapman lost the closer’s role as he missed a month due to Achilles tendinitis and, late in the year, another several weeks due to an infection from a tattoo. He was left off the Yankees’ post-season roster when he missed a mandatory workout. He had his weakest season, with a 4.46 ERA, 6.9 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9, all of which were easily career worsts if you exclude his walk rate in 2011. Chapman became a free agent after the season and signed with Kansas City.
2023-24
Chapman regained his effectiveness with the Royals, allowing just 16 hits and fanning 53 in 29.1 IP. He did walk 20. At the end of June, Kansas City traded him to Texas. He posted a 3.72 ERA and 15.5 K/9 with the Rangers.
After the season Chapman became a free agent again and signed with the Pirates. He was usually effective in 2024, at times looking like he did at his peak, but he had some bad stretches as well. His ERA was 5.68 in the season’s first and last months combined, and 2.95 in the other four months. What trouble he had more often than not was walks, of which he allowed 5.7 per nine innings. He struck out 14.3. Opponents batted .198 against Chapman, which was enough with the walks to leave him with a WHIP of 1.35, the second-highest of his career. Chapman got some save opportunities over the first five months of the season, picking up five, then he took over as closer from the struggling David Bednar in September and saved nine games that month despite some shaky pitching.
Stats
Transactions
January 11, 2010: Signed as a free agent by the Cincinnati Reds.
December 28, 2015: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees for Eric Jagielo, Caleb Cotham, Rookie Davis and Tony Renda.
July 25, 2016: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago Cubs for Adam Warren, Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.
November 3, 2016: Became a free agent.
December 15, 2016: Signed as a free agent by the New York Yankees.
November 6, 2022: Became a free agent.
January 27, 2023: Signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals.
June 30, 2023: Traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Texas Rangers for Cole Ragans and Roni Cabrera.
November 2, 2023: Became a free agent.
January 23, 2024: Signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.