According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports: Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman, whose defection sparked a bidding war among major league teams that coveted his 100-mph fastball, agreed Sunday morning to sign for $30 million with the Cincinnati Reds, sources close the negotiations told Yahoo! Sports.

The Reds had been “going after him like crazy,” according to one source, and outbid several other teams, including the Los Angeles Angels, Florida Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays.

The 22-year-old Chapman’s value has steadily climbed since a Dec. 15 workout in Houston in which he wasn’t throwing at full speed and still hit 97 mph. His potential as a front-of-the-line starter intrigued teams from coast to coast.

The bidding increased from an initial $15.5 million offer from the Boston Red Sox in early December to the highest reported proposal of $23 million from Toronto a few days ago.

Chapman immediately becomes the top prospect in the Reds’ system and could join a dangerous young rotation if Edinson Volquez returns healthy from Tommy John surgery and Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey develop. The Reds had been particularly quiet this offseason, sitting on a team that went 78-84 last year.

$30 million is a huge gamble for a pitcher who has never thrown a pitch in the Major League.

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Who’s left in the top ten and predictions to where they may end up

(The numbers indicate where they were ranked among free agents according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo)

1. Matt Holliday, LF – Cardinals made a proposal that could reach $140 million over eight years. What are you waiting for?

Prediction: Holliday will resign with the Cardinals.

4. Aroldis Chapman, SP – Never pitched in the majors, but for a lefty that throws in the upper 90′s and tops out at the century mark, it’s enticing. The Marlins have made a five-year offer worth about $13MM to Aroldis Chapman.

Prediction: Chapman will sign with the Marlins.

8. Erik Bedard, SP – No one knows when he will be healthy enough to pitch. If there’s any deal it will be heavily loaded with incentives. This is an unknown and a hard prediction, but I am going to take a guess at this one.

Prediction: My only guess and I mean a guess, is the Nationals.

10. Adrian Beltre, 3B – There has been a lot of chatter in Red Sox land about Adrian Beltre. I don’t think he will land with the Red Sox. In mid-December, Beltre was believed to be looking for a five-year deal worth $13 million-$16 million per season. This would put the Red Sox over the luxury tax threshold. Adrian Beltre, hit .265 with eight homers and 44 RBIs for the Seattle Mariners last season. I would not make a bid for more than $6 million per year even if he is one of the best third basemen in the majors.

Prediction: Red Sox, if they are willing to make the investment and pay for the luxury tax.

I am looking forward to the 2010 winter meetings when the free agent market will be full of All-Stars.