Had their offseason attempt to acquire then-Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman not fallen through over his domestic violence issues, the Dodgers would have deployed the left-hander aggressively in a setup role, a club official told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. That would have meant continuing with Kenley Jansen as the closer, which the Dodgers believe Chapman would have accepted after doing background work on him. Chapman ended up going to the Yankees, who shipped him to the Cubs in advance of this year’s non-waiver trade deadline. The flame-throwing 28-year-old could join the Dodgers in free agency during the offseason, notes Sherman, who writes that the team still has a high opinion of him. Los Angeles is also facing the potential departure of Jansen, who is set to join Chapman on the open market.
More from the National League:
- The Ricketts family, owners of the Cubs, are considering launching their own regional sports network before the 2019 expiration of their local television rights agreements, according to Kathy Bergen and Robert Channick of the Boston Herald. PwC, a consulting firm, projects that media rights will become professional sports teams’ biggest source of direct revenue by 2018. With that in mind, the Cubs could try to follow in the footsteps of the Dodgers, who launched regional network SportsNet LA with Time Warner Cable on a 25-year, $8.35 billion deal in 2014. Some cable providers have been reluctant to carry the channel because of its higher premium, though, and that might make such a lucrative agreement unrealistic for the Cubs, per Bergen and Channick. If the Cubs do form their own network, it could be in a partnership with Comcast SportsNet Chicago, which currently carries 79 games per season and pays the team $500K for each.
- Outgoing Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty told C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer that the team’s rebuild will succeed “as long as everybody doesn’t get too impatient.” The Reds have won fewer than 76 games in three straight seasons – including 68 this year – but Jocketty informed Rosecrans that the face of the franchise, superstar first baseman Joey Votto, is on board with the club’s direction. “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this club. I talk to guys like Joey (Votto) — Joey sees it, he’s excited about it. I’ve seen him more engaged with some of these young guys,” said Jocketty, who will transition to an advisory role as general manager Dick Williams takes control of the Reds’ baseball department.
Cubs getting spanked in World Series. Go Indians.
What does that have anything to do with the articles?
Lester needs to be on his game tonight, but the cubs are not getting the calls like the indians are from the umps
you realize that in terms of called strikes that were balls and vice versa the cubs were actually getting more calls than the indians. and it was broadcasted live on air by al leiter. lol
it seems like the umps are in favor of the indians pitchers
What’s games have you been watching
I’ve been watching every game
Then your eyes suck. The Cubs have clearly gotten more calls in their favor and they still can’t win
I think they win Game 5 tonight, but Indians close it out in Game 6.
Perhaps because Roberto Perez is a high quality pitch framer?
Want to see the Indians run like mad. His problem has become quite hilarious.
Lester had the highest caught stealing % of any Cubs starter this season. So no, not really a problem.
AL Central not too bad, Indians were second in hitting and second in pitching all year. Miller is a difference maker.
Sherman’s comments on Chapman disprove themselves. If the Dodgers still think highly of Chapman, they’d have swung the low-ball trade the Yankees made for him after the domestic violence issue emerged. They would have never gotten him on more favorable terms. Instead, they walked.
It would be a mistake to let Jansen go, he and Miller are the best.
I believe the cubs go after 1 of Chapman, Jansen or Melencon
Get all 3. Nice 7-8-9 inning punch.
That would be scary
Cubs will not go after Chapman. Burned too many bridges with Cubs.
What bridge did he burn?
The Cubs sent away a top 40 prospect in Torres, a top 80 in McKinney, and 3 years of Warren. That’s not a low ball package for 1/2 season of Chapman.
Sounds like the Dodgers PR brass is trying to get their best words out before free agency regardless of truth.
Pretty much. This reeks of an effort to try and soften Jansen up a wee bit – this whole “Champan in the 8th” thing is contrary to a lot of what was reported at the time.
I don’t necessarily disbelieve the Dodgers would have used Chapman in a setup role primarily. What I disbelieve is the story that they continue to think highly of him, which contradicts the basic facts of the situation. As for Jansen, he will be softened up with money. We have already heard in his only comments on the situation the strong implication that he’s going to the greenest pasture. Not extending him when they had the chance was another penny wise pound foolish decision by this FO.
Reds are going nowhere fast
Says the guy who’s too impatient
That’s it Cubs! Go ahead and star your own network like the Dodgers and shut out almost all of So Cal from seeing the Dodgers.
Start
Almost all? The situation is bad enough without an exaggeration.