One team is already off the Red Sox’s list for an Aroldis Chapman trade, and it’s not the Yankees originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The National League Central has been one of the more competitive divisions in Major League Baseball this season. While every team was above .500 for much of the year, there's now just one team that isn't, with the Cincinnati Reds sitting at 35-37.
The Reds have done some nice things throughout the year, but as a whole, haven't been able to compete at the level everyone expected. The offense, at times, can be very good, and the same can be said for one of the better pitching staffs in Major League Baseball.
However, the bullpen has been a major concern, and until that changes, there will be legitimate questions about whether Cincinnati can actually compete with high-end teams in the second half or make the postseason.
Trading for somebody like Aroldis Chapman could make a lot of sense, but according to one recent report, the chances of that happening are very low, giving the Boston Red Sox another team that likely won't be on Chapman's list of potential trade partners.