Written by Ian Casselberry at Bloguin
Approximately a week after putting up their “Open for Business” sign, the Cincinnati Reds are still waiting to begin what appears to be an offseason fire sale. Perhaps the reason the sell-off hasn’t gotten started is because the player that was expected to get the transactions rolling hasn’t yet been dealt. And from what it sounds like, the Reds want to trade closer Aroldis Chapman as soon as possible.
Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans talked to Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty, who made it clear that the front office is ready to make a deal.
“We’ve been talking to clubs, but I don’t think there’s anything that’s close,” Jocketty told Rosecrans. “Hopefully we get something done with somebody before the Winter Meetings. We’d like to get moving on some things.”
From the Reds’ standpoint, the urgency to trade Chapman before MLB’s Winter Meetings begin Dec. 7 in Nashville is understandable. Two teams that presumably had interest in arguably baseball’s best closer. The Red Sox traded for Craig Kimbrel, giving four prospects to the Padres in the process. And the Tigers acquired Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers, dealing far less than it would have taken to get Chapman.
With the haul that San Diego received in exchange for Kimbrel, you can see why Jocketty is eager to trade Chapman. However, it’s unlikely that the Reds will be able to yield the same return because Chapman has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining and can become a free agent after the 2016 season. Kimbrel was already under contract through 2017 with a club option for 2018. Two, probably three years of team control, was much more expensive, resulting in the high price Boston had to pay.
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