The Dodgers missed out on the top free-agent starting pitchers available, but they got the best reliever by trading for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman is headed to Los Angeles for a pair of prospects pending medical review, Fox Sports reported Monday morning. The prospects were not immediately identified.
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Chapman, who turns 28 in February, perennially has been the most dominant reliever in baseball. He led all closers (minimum 50 appearances) with a 1.63 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings last season, converting 33 of 36 save opportunities for the last-place Reds.
The addition of Chapman instantly gives the Dodgers the best 1-2 bullpen punch in baseball, coupled with incumbent closer Kenley Jansen, who is likely to assume a setup role with Chapman in tow. The Dodgers also may be inclined to put together a separate trade and flip Jansen, who also is entering the final year of his contract.
Chapman is expected to make more than $12 million this season in his final year of arbitration. It's possible he'll seek to double that per annum in his next contract, be it with the Dodgers or another team.
Los Angeles presumably plans to get to work on locking him up long term after further depleting an already shallow prospect pool, but it's no sure thing. CBS Sports reported Chapman has intended to test the open market regardless of where he plays in 2016.
