No Winter Ball for Chapman

From John Fay and the Enquirer:

Aroldis Chapman is back throwing pain-free, but Winter Ball is no longer part of his offseason plan.

“We’ve decided against sending him to Puerto Rico,” Walt Jocketty said. “He’s on a strength-and-conditioning program in Arizona. He’ll go to Florida after that and continue to work out.”

Chapman made two appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He was scheduled to start Oct. 31, but he scratched with shoulder stiffness.

The plan was to go to Puerto Rico to pitch in Winter Ball after the Oct. 31 start. The Reds did not want to take that risk. Unlike the AFL, Winter Ball is not a controlled situation and it is very competitive.

“There’s no injury,” Jocketty said. “We just want to make sure he’s 100 percent. He had the shoulder issue during the season.”

The plan is still to start Chapman. He’ll have plenty of time to build innings during spring training.

I hope that we’re hearing the true story here and that it’s nothing…and that he’s still slated to start. If they don’t re-sign Cordero (or some other closer) at a lesser contract, the Reds are going to be very tempted to try Chapman as closer.