Report: Dodgers pursued Chapman for setup role

Aroldis Chapman could have been in the same role that Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller finds himself in now; an elite left-handed setup man pitching for a different team.

At the Winter Meetings last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds had a deal in place for Chapman, but it fell through after the news that a domestic abuse allegation against the reliever was being investigated in Florida, which eventually led to Chapman's 30-game suspension.

Had the Dodgers acquired Chapman, the team would have "aggressively" used the 28-year-old in a setup role to complement closer Kenley Jansen, a club official told the New York Post, according to Joel Sherman.

The Dodgers' plan revolved around the idea of the team maximizing both Chapman and Jansen's value, since the two relievers will be free agents at the end of the season. After the Dodgers pulled out of the deal, the Yankees acquired Chapman for a lesser return, and eventually traded both he and Miller in separate deals to the Cubs and Indians, who are now facing off in the World Series.

With Chapman's impending free agent status, Sherman notes the Dodgers could have interest, especially if Jansen hits the open market. With the Yankees and Cubs, Chapman recorded 36 saves - his fifth straight season of 30 or more - including a combined regular and postseason ERA of 1.72 with 108 strikeouts.