While the Los Angeles Dodgers have won three consecutive National League West division titles, their Achilles’ heel throughout the postseason runs has largely been an inconsistent bullpen.
Los Angeles appeared to make a significant upgrade at the Winter Meetings when they agreed to trade for then-Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. However, a report of Chapman’s involvement in a domestic dispute put the deal on hold, and the Dodgers eventually walked away from the trade.
Three weeks after the deal fell apart, the Reds traded Chapman to the New York Yankees. While the electric left-hander was suspended 30 games by Major League Baseball, his presence gave New York a vaunted three-headed monster at the back end of their bullpen.
Aside from that, not much has gone the Yankees’ way this season. They enter play on Sunday 7.5 games back of first place in the American League East, and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card picture.
They’re believed to be among the teams selling at the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline and Chapman appears the likely first piece to move. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Dodgers are among the teams who have pursued a trade for the closer:
#SFGiants, #Dodgers, #Nationals also have pursued #Yankees’ Chapman, per sources. #Indians possibly in as well.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2016
Along with the other clubs Rosenthal mentioned, the Chicago Cubs are reported to have interest in Chapman as well. The flamethrower has converted 20 of 21 save opportunities this season and owns a 2.01 ERA.
Chapman’s 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings are a career-low and his 36.7 strikeout percentage is the second-lowest clip of his career. Chapman nonetheless continues to light up the radar gun and recently touched 105.1 mph, tying his own record from 2010.
The 28-year-old is owed $5 million in remaining salary and is eligible for free agency after the 2016 season. Chapman is the type of elite ‘rental’ the Dodgers have thus far resisted against trading for under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
What may play a factor in their decision making is Kenley Jansen has blown five saves this season, and he too is eligible for free agency this winter.
