MLB Trade Rumors 2015: Reds in Talks with Dodgers About Aroldis Chapman
The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly already in agreement with the Cincinnati Reds to acquire Aroldis Chapman, the deal said to be just awaiting for the review of the player's medical records. In exchange, the Dodgers will be sending two prospects to Cincinnati.
While several reports are coming in about the almost consummated deal, there are also claims that the deal hasn't been written on paper as of the moment because of some minor issues that haven't been resolved and that it's not only the medicals that's preventing it from getting officially announced.
But should everything proceed as planned, Los Angeles is expected to be fielding a very interesting eighth and ninth inning combo with Chapman and closer Kenley Jansen. That is something that Dodgers fans will certainly be excited about.
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In Chapman, the Dodgers get a beast; someone who comes equipped with a fastball that easily tops 100 mph. That's something that only a few pitchers in the league can boast. He made 116 strikeouts last season in just 66 and 1/3 innings while saving 33 games.
But if there is one issue that might come out of this deal is the likely tension between the current closer, Jansen, and Chapman, especially if the latter plays the way that's expected of him. This also can have substantial implications to Jansen, at least financially speaking. He is to become a free agent after next season, and it's quite intriguing to see how Chapman's arrival will affect his value in the market.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers, in return, will send two prospects that haven't been named as of this posting. But it sure will not include left-handed sensation Julio Urias. Aside from Chapman, the club also recently signed Japanese Hisashi Iwakuma.
As for the Reds, team officials openly admitted as early as last month that they've been hoping to unload the left-handed Chapman, but it still is unclear what made them decide to let him go considering that they had an awful season, finishing dead last in NL Central.
