CINCINNATI -- Monday will be a big day for the Cincinnati Reds, when the team formally announces it has outbid other big city ball clubs to get a promising new pitching prospect.
More strike outs, more respect and a better chance at the playoffs are among the things the Cincinnati Reds may get by acquiring 22-year old Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, with a 5-year, $25 Million contract.
Chapman defected from Cuba last July after posting a fastball of 102 mph during the World Baseball Classic. That helped the left hander catch a lot of people's attention.
Even more amazing is that, even though Cincinnati is considered a small market city for baseball, the Reds managed to outbid the Boston Red Sox, Blue Jays and Angels to get Chapman.
The Red Sox had reportedly offered Chapman a $15 Million deal that he and his agent rejected. A report on the Reds web site says Toronto offered as much as $23 Million for Chapman's services.
The Cincinnati Reds have called a 12 p.m. news conference for Monday, presumably to discuss the Chapman deal. We expect to learn exactly how the team wants to use Chapman as well as the specifics of his new deal.
Watch the news conference live, here on WCPO.com.
