Aroldis Chapman’s Financial Advisor Allegedly Stripped Him of $3 Million
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman may want to spend the offseason looking for a new financial advisor.
We aren’t suggesting that because Chapman, the All-Star flamethrower, has long had a passion for luxury cars. Chapman, who has been with the New York Yankees on a full-time basis since 2017, just filed a lawsuit alleging his former financial advisor of stealing more than $3 million from the Cuban closer.
Aroldis Chapman is a veteran reliever
Nicknamed the Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman more than lived up to that moniker in his first 11 seasons.
Born in Holguin, Cuba, Chapman came to the United States in 2009 and signed a six-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
Originally expected to become a starting pitcher, Chapman instead turned into a dominant closer. Chapman saved 146 games in six seasons with the Reds and struck out 546 hitters in only 319 innings.
He made the All-Star Game every year from 2012-15 and never posted an ERA higher than 2.54 in those four seasons.
Chapman has had mixed success with the New York Yankees
Because the team was rebuilding and because Aroldis Chapman had a legal issue involving his wife, Cincinnati traded their star closer to the New York Yankees after the 2015 season.
According to SB Nation, Chapman’s girlfriend alleged he assaulted her and fired eight gunshots afterward. Although no charges were filed, Chapman served a 30-game suspension in 2016 for the “use of a firearm.”
Upon returning, Chapman saved 20 games with a 2.01 ERA. New York traded Chapman to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline for top prospect Gleyber Torres, and Chapman helped Chicago win the World Series.
Chapman re-signed with the Yankees and went 11-6 with 94 saves, a 2.64 ERA, and 269 strikeouts in 170.1 innings from 2017-20.
Chapman has had his postseason problems, however, and gave up the series-winning home runs in both the 2019 ALCS and 2020 ALDS.
Aroldis Chapman is now involved in a high-profile lawsuit
Aroldis Chapman alleges he trusted the wrong person with his money.
According to nj.com, Chapman filed a lawsuit in Florida against Pro Management Resources, a financial advisory company. Chapman alleges Anthony Chriricosta, the company’s owner, covered up an incident by employee Benito Zavala.
Zavala allegedly stole $3 million from Chapman starting in October 2016 and used the money on the following:
- A home in Valrico, Fla., for $836,000. The home’s deed was later transferred to Chandler Costa, an exotic dancer and Zavala’s girlfriend.
- A 2018 Cadillac Escalade and a Jeep Wrangler, the combined prices of which totaled nearly $140,000.
Zavala also allegedly used Western Union wire transfers to “direct $560,000 to himself, Costa, and her brother.”
Chapman said he was not aware of those purchases.
Chapman, through his attorney, declined to comment on the lawsuit with the paper.
According to Baseball-Reference, Chapman will have made roughly $101 million by the time his contract ends in 2022.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.
