It appears Aroldis Chapman won’t be heading to Los Angeles after all.
After reports surfaced that the Dodgers were interested in inking the closer to a two-year deal, Mike DiGiovanna, who covers the Dodgers and Angels for the Los Angeles Times, tweeted Thursday night that neither the interest nor the contract offer were true.
Citing anonymous sources, DiGiovanna reported that the Dodgers are “not involved in the bidding for the embattled LHP.”
Former Mets infielder Carlos Baerga, who broke the news of Rafael Devers’ 11-year, $331 million deal with the Red Sox earlier this week, linked the Dodgers and Chapman on Thursday via an Instagram post. Baerga added that the Padres were rumored to have offered Chapman a two-year deal as well.
Meanwhile, Chapman remains a free agent with less than two months until spring training.
The 34-year-old struggled throughout this past season with the Yankees, going 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA and recording just nine saves. The campaign included a controversial ending when Chapman blew off a mandatory workout and was left off the team’s ALDS roster. Days before that, he elected to stay home in Miami instead of throwing live batting practice. Chapman also spent time on the injured list last season with a leg infection that was caused by a tattoo.
It’s not the first time that Chapman has been linked to the Dodgers.
In 2015, they were interested in acquiring the hard-throwing lefty from the Reds before he was suspended for the first 30 games of the season for alleged domestic violence. Chapman was eventually dealt to the Yankees in December of that year before being acquired midseason by the Cubs on their way to a World Series title. The Yankees then signed him to a five-year, $86 million free agent deal.
The Dodgers need bullpen help after losing Chris Martin and Tommy Kahnle to free agency this offseason, and Blake Treinen likely out for the season if he undergoes shoulder surgery, but it appears they aren’t interested in Chapman.
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