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Aroldis Chapman agrees to $8.05 million deal, avoids arbitration

By Ethan Finkelstein

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The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to terms with closer Aroldis Chapman on a one year contract worth $8.05 million.

On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds secured the back of their bullpen heading into the 2015 Major League Baseball season. According to Fox Sports, the team agreed to terms with closer Aroldis Chapman on an $8.05 million one year deal that will help the team avoid salary arbitration.

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Prior to Friday’s agreement, Chapman had requested $8.7 million for 2015 after initially receiving an offer for $6.65 million. His original six-year contract signed in January of 2010 had 2015 as a $5 million player option.

Chapman, who will be 27 at the start of the season, remains one of baseball’s best closing pitchers, having saved 112 games over the past three years. His ERA during that span is an even 2.00 (194 ERA+) and he is striking out nearly 17 batters per nine innings pitched, with 340 punch-outs over 189.1 innings pitched. His arsenal includes a sharp breaking slider, blistering fastball that averages just over 100 mph, and a rarely seen change-up.

The blazing lefty has simply been an imposing force for the Reds at the end of their games, and the team realizes that consistency from the closer’s role is somewhat of a commodity these days. For every Craig Kimbrel, there are just as many Jim Hendersons, or Jim Johnsons. Sometimes, it can be difficult to gain long term reliability at the back end of the bullpen.

With a guy like Chapman, Cincinnati rarely has to worry about letting a late lead slip away. It is something that will likely come into play a ton this year. The Reds can expect a ton of close calls, as the rest of the National League Central division appears to have gotten better over the off-season.

H/T Fox Sports

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