Reports: Dodgers To Acquire Aroldis Chapman From Reds For Prospects

The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are on the verge of adding one of the best relievers in baseball.

The Dodgers have agreed to a trade with the Cincinnati Reds involving All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, according to multiple reports. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, who was the first to report the news Monday, was told by sources that Cincinnati will receive two prospects in the trade and that the deal is pending the review of medical records.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, none of the Dodgers’ top three prospects — Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Jose De Leon — are involved in the trade. Chapman is set to become a free agent following the 2016 season, so he could be just a one-year rental, which diminishes the expected return.

Rosenthal added the Dodgers are expected to keep incumbent closer Kenley Jansen even after acquiring Chapman. Los Angeles apparently intends to build from the back end of its bullpen after losing Zack Greinke in free agency, given the cost to acquire top-flight starting pitching.

It’ll be interesting to see how Jansen takes the news. He has been a very good closer in his own right and is entering a contract year, so it’d be understandable if he’d like to retain the closer’s job in the hopes of maximizing his value before hitting free agency next winter.

Players who know Jansen do not believe he would react well if he lost closer’s job with #Dodgers set to acquire Chapman. Stay tuned.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2015

Chapman, a four-time All-Star, has saved at least 33 games in each of the last four seasons. He posted a 1.63 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 65 appearances in 2015 while striking out 15.7 batters per nine innings.