Report: Reds trade Chapman to Dodgers for prospects
As their division rivals are busy adding top pieces to their rotations, the Los Angeles Dodgers have assembled one of the top bullpen tandems in the majors.
Four-time All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has reportedly been traded to the Dodgers on Monday, with two prospects going back to the Cincinnati Reds, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
The prospects have yet to be announced, though it is believed neither Julio Urias nor Corey Seager are involved.
Chapman will likely take over as closer, moving Kenley Jansen into the setup role and giving the Dodgers a highly enviable one-two punch. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes that the plan, for now, is to keep both Chapman and Jansen, though players who know Jansen believe he won't react well if he loses the closer's job.
2015 STATS
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman | 66.1 | 1.63 | 116 | 1.14 |
| Jansen | 52.1 | 2.41 | 80 | 0.78 |
Arguably the best closer in baseball, Chapman posted a 1.63 ERA and 116 strikeouts across 66 1/3 innings last season, while converting 33 saves. The 27-year-old, whose career 42.9 percent strikeout rate is the best mark in baseball history, owns a 1.90 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over the past four seasons. He's expected to earn $12.9 million through arbitration in 2016, the final year before hitting free agency.
Jansen has converted 108 saves over the past three seasons, posting a 2.32 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across 194 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old is also a free agent at the end of next season.
The Dodgers' bullpen has been one of the team's biggest weaknesses in recent years. With plenty of moving parts, 21 different relievers combined for a 3.91 ERA last season, the fifth-worst mark in the majors.
There's been no shortage of movement in the National League West over the past few days. Zack Greinke spurned the Dodgers and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The same day, Jeff Samardzija agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles also added to its rotational depth, signing Hisashi Iwakuma to a three-year, $45-million deal.