Dodgers trade for Aroldis Chapman, assemble dominant back end of bullpen

A person briefed on the negotiations said the Reds were talking to the Dodgers, and Cincinnati executives have been confident they will move Chapman during the Winter Meetings as part of their rebuild. Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ closer in recent seasons, is at 14.0.

Chapman, who turns 28 in February, will be eligible to become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season.

The Reds are in the midst of trying to rebuild, and Chapman’s impending free agency made him their most attractive option. Chapman is an even more dominant lefty than Miller, and an acquiring team would get a full season plus the chance to put a qualifying offer on the closer after the 2016 campaign.

The fireballing left-hander put up a 1.63 ERA in 65 games for the Reds in 2015, saving 33 games while striking out 116 and walking 33 in 66⅓ innings.

While the exact return for Chapman is, as of yet, unknown, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman added via Twiter than none of Corey Seager, Jose De Leon, nor Julio Urias would be involved in the deal.

Chapman is baseball’s all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings pitched at 15.4.

Jim Bowden of ESPN and Sirius XM is reporting that the Dodgers and starter Hisashi Iwakuma have come to an agreement on a contract.

The 30-year-old Miller, who was the recent victor of the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award, posted a 2.04 ERA and 36 saves in his first year with the Yankees, thus why his asking price in a trade is sky high, and given the fact that the Boston Red Sox had to part with four prospects in order to get Craig Kimbrel, the Yankees are well within their rights to ask for a lot for their lefty closer.