Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Rumors: LA Reportedly Has 2-Year Offer On Table to Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman was once the most dominant relief pitcher in baseball, with a fastball that routinely hit triple digits and a devastating slider. The Dodgers almost traded for Chapman after the 2015 season, but reports of a domestic violence incident (for which he was later suspended 30 games) caused them to back out of the deal.

According to a report from former big-leaguer Carlos Baerga, though, the Dodgers might be in on Chapman seven years after refusing to trade for him.

In English, Baerga’s post says: “Aroldis Chapman Rumored To Be Offered A 2-Year Deal By The Los Angeles Dodgers & San Diego Padres.”

If we remove his off-field history, Chapman fits well with what we know about the Dodgers. He used to be great and still has good stuff, so he seems like the kind of guy Los Angeles might take on as a project.

But the ownership group in L.A. is the same group that put the kibosh on the trade seven years ago, and with everything going on regarding the Trevor Bauer situation, it’s hard to see them choosing now to bring in Chapman. I guess they could be planning to keep Bauer and figure, “People are gonna be mad anyway, let’s lump it all together and get it over with. Could we hire the guy who cheated for the Red Sox while we’re at it?”

Baerga’s track record is mixed on breaking news like this. Just yesterday, he was the first to report Boston’s extension with Rafael Devers, but he had Aaron Judge going to the Giants earlier this offseason. And with two teams listed here, even if he’s right it doesn’t mean he’s coming to Los Angeles.

Chapman’s strikeout rate was way down in 2022, and his walk rate has been astronomically high the last two seasons. We’re a few years removed from his major dominance, but it sure would be interesting to see what the Dodgers School of Pitchcraft and Wizardry could do with him.

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Jeff Snider

Jeff was born into a Dodgers family in Southern California and is now raising a Dodgers family of his own in Utah. During his previous career as an executive at a technology company, he began writing about baseball in his spare time. After leaving corporate America in 2014, he started doing it professionally. Jeff wrote and edited for Baseball Essential for years before joining Dodgers Nation. He's also the co-host of the Locked On Dodgers podcast, a daily podcast that brings the smart fan's perspective on our Boys in Blue. Jeff has a degree in English from Brigham Young University. Favorite Player: Clayton Kershaw Favorite Moment: Kirk Gibson's homer will always have a place, but Kershaw's homer on Opening Day 2013 might be the winner.

11 Comments

  1. If the Dodgers truly do have an offer on the table for Arnoldo’s Chapman then I believe if the Dodgers cant work out a trade with another team then they will be keeping Trevor Bauer . I say give him a chance.

  2. Pass. And not because old domestic issue. His skills have declined too much. Bullpen guy who walks people are a nightmare.

  3. What is it? We have Phillips who was lights out. We have Vesia who was lights out with attitude. We have Brusdar, who is an inch away. Chapman is history. Hmm kind of like Kimbrel. Oh, we also have Hudson. We have four in house options. It sounds like Shelby Miller is having some positives working right now. Stick him in middle relief! Chapman is like the old sixties song. “but that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone”.

  4. Sign TB and you won’t be burning up the pen because the guy will go 7 like Urias usually does. Chapman is more washed up than Kimbrel. friedman needs to think about getting players that are close to prime, not golf.

  5. The team needs Trevor Bauer. The team is going to pay for him regardless. I for one will be incensed if the Dodgers take a holier than thou position on the man and waive him so that he goes to pitch for the PADS or anyone else.

  6. Notice the Dodger writers followed this story up with another claiming Chapman was just a rumor. What a coincidence these stories appear right before the Dodgers make their decision on TB. Ironically the articles bring up the similarities of the players being “Troubled” past and both share similar charges. IMO this is just another article to sway the opinion of keeping TB even though 95% of the fans want him. Games in the media and writers thinking they’re either smart, or they’ve been instructed by the FO like they do numerous times here to push their moves on fans..

  7. Keep TB and stop playing games! I want to know why the heck they didn’t bring Chris Martin back??

  8. Yeah but we’re talking about Dodger stadium, the greatest pirchers park in baseball history. With our dumb a** manager yanking starters after 4 or 5 innings we could use all the bullpen help we can get.

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