Report: Reds aggressively shopping Chapman
Trade rumors surrounding Cincinnati Reds fireballer Aroldis Chapman appear to be heating up.
The Reds are expected to trade Chapman by the end of the weekend, four sources tell Peter Gammons.
The general managers' meetings are wrapping up in Boca Raton, Fla., on Thursday, giving executives from all 30 MLB teams time to reflect on preliminary trade talks. The Boston Red Sox, for instance, are doing background work on the 27-year-old, though a deal isn't close, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Related: Anonymous GM: 'Everyone's closer is available' on trade market
Chapman has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to last season, and outgoing GM Walt Jocketty already expressed his openness to trade talks involving the Cuban closer earlier this week.
The left-hander, who converted 33 of his 36 save chances in 2015, is third-year arbitration eligible, and will become a free agent at the conclusion of next season. Chapman is projected to make $13 million in 2016, which is a steep price for a closer on a rebuilding club.
A team that acquires Chapman now rather than at some point during the 2016 season will earn the right to extend him a qualifying offer, and receive potential draft-pick compensation should he test the free-agent market down the road.
Chapman regularly registers triple digits on the radar gun, and posted a microscopic 1.63 ERA while striking out 116 batters over 66 1/3 innings of work.