Aroldis Chapman trade could come sooner rather than later

The Cincinnati Reds explored a trade of closer Aroldis Chapman prior to this season’s July deadline, and they appear to be doing so again now that the offseason has officially begun. The flame-throwing relief pitcher may not need to wait long for a new home either.

According to Peter Gammons, several sources have told him that a deal could be reached by the end of this weekend.

The 27-year-old Chapman has been one of baseball’s elite relievers since he made his debut in 2010. Armed with a fastball that routinely hits triple digits on the radar gun, the Cuban left-hander would be a welcome addition to just about any bullpen.

Chapman enjoyed yet another domination campaign in 2015, converting 33 of 36 save opportunities for the Reds to the tune of a 1.63 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He also mowed opposing batters down at a 15.7 K/9 clip while earning his fourth consecutive All-Star nod.

The Boston Red Sox are one of the clubs being frequently linked to Chapman at the moment. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Red Sox are moving aggressively on “multiple fronts” and that includes carrying out “background work” on Chapman.

While Chapman would presumably supplant current closer Koji Uehara, Rosenthal notes that Boston could also pursue a new setup option to pair with Uehara instead.

A host of other teams have shown interest in Chapman in the past, such as the Nationals, Yankees, Astros, Diamondbacks and Tigers. These and others could be in the mix as well. Chapman is eligible for free agency following the 2016 season, meaning whoever trades for him will have his services for one year before he inevitably tests the open market in hopes of nabbing a big contract.

Next: M's acquire Joaquin Benoit

The trade market for relief pitchers has already kicked into motion, as the Padres sent veteran setup man Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners earlier today. It sounds like Chapman could shortly follow him in changing uniforms.