The Royals have agreed to a one-year deal with hard-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Thursday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is expected to be worth $3.75 million plus performance bonuses. Kansas City will be banking on a turnaround from Chapman, who was known for his consistent triple-digit velocity earlier in his career.
The 2022 season was a miserable one for the seven-time All-Star. It saw Chapman record some of the worst stats of his 13-year career and was blemished by multiple injured-list stints as well as questions regarding his willingness to be a team player.
Although Chapman began the year with 12 scoreless appearances, that was followed by a stretch in May when he allowed at least one run in six consecutive games. Chapman was placed on the 15-day IL with left Achilles tendinitis on May 24 and missed the next six weeks, effectively losing his role as the Yanks’ closer to 2022 All-Star Clay Holmes.
Chapman made another trip to the IL in August due to a leg infection stemming from a tattoo.
He returned from that month-long absence to finish the regular season well, but he was held off the team’s postseason roster after missing a mandatory team workout prior to the ALDS without an acceptable excuse.
Chapman’s average four-seam fastball velocity dipped to a career-low 97.5 mph last season, and that contributed to his worst marks in strikeout rate (26.9%) and swinging-strike rate (12.7%). His 17.5% walk rate was the second highest of his career while his 4.46 ERA was his worst by nearly a full run.
Chapman finished the season with nine saves, his fewest during a full season since 2011. His 315 career saves rank 24th in AL/NL history and are the third most among active pitchers, trailing only Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.