We’d read earlier in the week that the Washington Nationals were kicking the tires on the Cuban Missile. It seemed like they might be the only potential suitor for elite, established closers. Reports out today say that the Nationals and Phillies are moving along on a trade that would send Jonathan Pappelbon to Washington.
Now, this afternoon, is a new report from Jeff Passan (Yahoo) that the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks are in discussion about Chapman.
Sources: Diamondbacks, Reds are talking about Aroldis Chapman. D'backs doing due diligence on him. Ask is huge, but may be something there.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2015
J.J. Cooper (Baseball America) speculates the talks might concern young MLB players.
Trying to figure out package D'backs could put together for Chapman. Probably has to include some young MLB players https://t.co/GlXs7rTX44
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) July 28, 2015
Here is the D-Backs’ current active roster. Plenty of trap doors there – players with high batting averages based on inflated BABIP and terrible walk-rates (Yasmany Tomas, negative defense; Ender Inciarte, strong OF defense; Jake Lamb, strong 3B defense). Just the kind of meh players the Reds shouldn’t settle on for Chapman.
Diamondbacks GM Dave Stuart confirms Arizona’s interest to Steve Gilbert, D-Backs’ beat writer:
Dbacks GM Dave Stewart confirms @JeffPassan report that he checked in with Reds about Aroldis Chapman. “I’m going to go down that path and see where it takes us.” Stewart said he did not know whether it was likely or unlikely that something would get done.