The Cincinnati Reds have yet to officially declare they'll be selling before the July 31 trade deadline, but it's fairly obvious they're one of the top clubs ready to move big-name players. Previous rumors have mentioned a number of potential trade scenarios, with some involving closer Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman is one of the best closers in the MLB and has a 1.69 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 18 saves and 65 strikeouts in 38 games (37 1/3 innings) this season. He's one of the more valuable assets Cincinnati possesses because he's under club control through next season and would immediately stabilize the back end of another bullpen.
Even the left-hander knows being traded is a possibility before the deadline.
"It is something that is part of the game but out of my control," he said after the All-Star Game, with trainer Tomas Vera translating, via The Associated Press. "I won't worry about it. It is up to the front office what happens."
Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post lists Chapman as the top All-Star to be dealt before the deadline in his recent column.
Chapman has been linked to a few clubs in trade rumors, including the Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals, and there are others in need of bullpen help. We noted yesterday "big changes" could be coming soon for Cincinnati, and a trade involving Chapman would fall under that umbrella. Due to the Reds' payroll situation and current standing in the NL Central, they have little use for Chapman and the best option seems to be getting top value for him while they can.
So let's take a look at HNGN's top three candidates for the hard-throwing closer.
3. San Francisco Giants
This is my dark horse pick for Chapman. So far trade rumors have indicated the Giants are looking to add depth among their position players, but why not look to bolster a bullpen that ranks 17th in the MLB with a 3.64 ERA, 19th with a .244 opponents' batting average, and 27th with 213 strikeouts?
Sergio Romo endured a bad first half and finished 0-4 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 37 games (26 innings) and Santiago Casilla isn't exactly a lights-out closer. Yes he's 4-2 with 32 games finished and 23 saves, but his 3.34 ERA and 1.39 WHIP aren't the best credentials for a ninth-inning guy. He had a dominant May and June, but in five games this month he's 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA, despite notching three saves.
Also, he has a vesting option that kicks in if he finishes 55 games this year. He's already at 32, so perhaps the Giants can avoid paying him $6.5 million in 2016 by acquiring and instead use that money for the left-hander.
There's a case to be made for Chapman heading to San Francisco especially since the Giants need to preserve every lead moving forward as they compete with the Dodgers for an NL West title as well as the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates for a wild-card spot.
2. Washington Nationals
The Nats were actually the first team seriously linked to Chapman back in June when it was reported the team had "preliminary talks" with Cincinnati regarding the left-hander. Despite their solid bullpen (3.36 ERA, 29 saves in 2015), it can't hurt to add one of the most dominant arms in baseball to pitch alongside Drew Storen (1.89 ERA, 27 saves). While the Nats' bullpen has a top-10 ERA, Tanner Roark, Casey Janssen and Aaron Barrett haven't exactly had good campaigns thus far.
Washington and general manager Mike Rizzo have the resources to add Chapman, even though the GM likes what he sees from the bullpen through the first half of the season.
"The main questions about this Nationals' team surround the bullpen, which has been strong enough to help them reach first place in their division, but has not shown the reliable lights-out capability that has been so important to World Series winners the past few Octobers," writes Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post.
The NL playoff race is never an easy one, and this year could be an even tougher road to the World Series, which is why the Nats need all the advantages they can get.
1. Toronto Blue Jays
General manager Alex Anthopoulos is looking for both rotation and bullpen help prior to the deadline. The Jays have been linked to Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon, Padres' closer Craig Kimbrel, Athletics' closer Tyler Clippard and Brewers' closer Francisco Rodriguez, but Chapman is arguably a better option than all of them. He's cheaper than Papelbon and Kimbrel and he's younger, more effective and has one more year of club control than Clippard and Rodriguez.
Toronto has the fewest saves (14) in the MLB at this point in the season and it's unknown if they prefer to rely on 20-year-old Roberto Osuna as their closer for the rest of the way. The team is hoping to snap a 21-year postseason drought as they remain in the AL East race, but they only thing they snapped so far this year was a 34-game save-less streak.
Perhaps a package deal involving Chapman and ace Johnny Cueto is in the works.
As the deadline approaches in the next two weeks, look for Chapman to be in a different uniform by July 31.
