CBS Sports’ Heyman: D-backs still waiting to hear from Reds about Chapman
Jul 30, 2015, 6:49 PM | Updated: Jul 31, 2015, 10:37 am
Jon Heyman, baseball writer for CBS Sports, is reporting the Arizona Diamondbacks are playing the waiting game after making a proposal to the Cincinnati Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman.
d-backs awaiting word from reds on their proposal for star closer aroldis chapman. http://t.co/cEkEpkyJLg
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2015
It was reported earlier this week that the Diamondbacks were interested in Chapman and making calls, and earlier today, D-backs president Derrick Hall told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the team wants to re-purpose current closer Brad Ziegler as a seventh or eighth inning guy.
“If we were to get a shut-down closer type,” Hall said, “either now or in the offseason, that’s only going to help the back-end of the bullpen even more.”
We are currently less than 24 hours from the non-waiver trade deadline, so the Reds don’t have much more time to decide, though no response yet might mean they are waiting for a better offer.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the D-backs want to extend Chapman past 2016 if they were to acquire him.
Sources: #DBacks want to land Chapman with idea of extending him past 2016. New TV deal starts next season. Team again poised to spend big.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2015
A four-time All-Star, the 27-year-old Chapman has 20 saves and a 1.73 ERA this season, with 74 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched. In his MLB career, which began in 2010, he has accumulated 133 saves and a 2.23 ERA with 504 strikeouts in 294.1 innings.
The left-hander also owns the 50 fastest pitches recorded this season, with a high of 103.9 MPH. He signed a six-year contract with the Reds in 2010.
