Press Clippings November 16, 2015

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1997 - Kent Mercker signs a free agent contract with the Cardinals. Mercker spent five seasons with the Reds, collecting a 13-15 record and a 3.64 ERA, while appearing in 207 games.

CBSSPORTS.COM trade helps Reds in trade talks By Mike Axisa / CBS Sports

Late last week, the first two major trades of the offseason were completed. The Angels acquired Andrelton Simmons from the Braves Thursday night, then, on Friday, the Red Sox acquired Craig Kimbrel from the Padres for four prospects.

Red Sox president of operations made it clear weeks ago he sought an upgrade in the late innings this winter, so he used the club's prospect depth to acquire one of the very best in the business. It cost him dearly though. He paid a big price for Kimbrel.

According to MLB.com, outfielder and shortstop Javier Guerra are the 25th and 76th best prospects in baseball, respectively. Lefty is not a top 100 prospect but MLB.com ranks him 18th in San Diego's system. Utility man is an okay at best prospect who will get a chance to win a bench job in spring training.

So that's two top 100 prospects plus an interesting third prospect plus a potential big league utility man. For a one-inning reliever, even one as good as Kimbrel, that's a great haul. And remember, the Red Sox took on all $25.5 million owed to Kimbrel the next two years. The Padres rebuilt their system and cleared payroll in one trade.

Surely both the Padres and Red Sox are happy with the deal. They wouldn't have made the trade if they weren't happy, after all. Also happy with the trade: the Reds. Cincinnati is said to be serious about trading Aroldis Chapman this offseason. The Red Sox and Padres just set the market for an elite closer and boy is that market rich.

It makes sense for the Reds to move Chapman now. He'll be a free agent next offseason and will surely command huge dollars, more than the Reds may be able to commit. Chapman will earn upwards of $12 million through arbitration in 2016, plus the Reds probably won't contend in the rough NL Central, and the last thing a non-contender needs is an expensive closer.

In terms of performance, Chapman and Kimbrel are comparable. They're both outstanding and picking between the two is nitpicking. Check their performances the last two seasons:

2014-15 PERFORMANCE: AROLDIS CHAPMAN VS. CRAIG KIMBREL

IP ERA WHIP K/9 BB/9 HR/9 WAR Chapman 120 1/3 1.80 1.01 16.6 4.3 0.3 4.6 Kimbrel 121 2.08 0.98 13.5 3.6 0.6 3.7

If I were forced to pick one, I'd probably go Chapman because of the overwhelming number of . Nothing bad can happen when the ball isn't put in play. Kimbrel is obviously excellent himself. I'd happily take either on my team. They're among the what, two or three best relievers in the world?

The Reds can now point to the four-player haul the Padres landed for Kimbrel and use that as a reference point in Chapman trade talks. They can say they want two top 100 caliber prospects plus a third prospect plus another guy they can plug into their MLB roster next year. Why wouldn't they ask for that initially?

The years of control changes things, however. The Red Sox have Kimbrel for 2016-17 plus option for 2018. Chapman will be a free agent next year. It's two (potentially three) years of Kimbrel against just one of Chapman, and that changes the equation. That said, the Reds can still ask for two tippy top prospects plus more for their closer. It's not unrealistic.

Also keep in mind supply and demand. It's the simple concept that controls the market. There are way more teams looking for bullpen than there is actual bullpen help. No disrespect to Darren O'Day or Joakim Soria or anyone else, but there is no elite reliever in free agency this winter. The trade market is the way to go, and now one elite reliever is off the board in Kimbrel.

CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman recently reported the Yankees are listening to offers for , though it would be a surprise if they moved him. They're looking to win next season and Miller helps them accomplish that, not a sexy package of prospects. There's been speculation the Pirates could make available, though that is only speculation so far.

With Kimbrel off the board, the trade market for an elite reliever goes through Cincinnati. Chapman is both the best available closer and most available closer. The Reds are motivated to move him -- they can't lose him to free agency with nothing but a draft pick to show for it next year, they have to move him for prospects -- and there are plenty of suitors, even though only contenders figure to show interest. (Again, an expensive closer on a non-contender is unnecessary.)

Thanks in part to the Royals and their powerhouse winning bullpen, teams are prioritiziing relief help more than ever. Starters are throwing fewer innings and the bullpens are being asked to get more and more outs. A dominant end-game arm like Chapman has become a necessity for contention, not a luxury.

The Kimbrel trade set the price nice and high for Chapman, even if he is only a year away from free agency. And unless you think you can pry Miller away from the Yankees or Melancon away from the Pirates, Chapman is easily the top reliever on the trade market. The Reds have the market all to themselves and are in a great position heading into any trade talks.

FOXSPORTS.COM Reds GM believes teams will be interested in closer Chapman By Larry Brown / Fox Sports

The Cincinnati Reds are willing to listen to trade proposals for closer Aroldis Chapman, and team GM Dick Williams believes there will be plenty of interest in the closer.

Williams told MLB.com Saturday that he wasn't worried about the acquiring Craig Kimbrel in a trade with the , taking the AL East team out of the closer market.

"We didn't feel like we missed out on a deal with them," Williams told MLB.com regarding the Red Sox. "There will be other teams that are interested in Chapman.

"I don't control who is out there or who will be interested. We feel that there are other offers. We feel that he's the best closer out there, so [we] hope good stuff can happen."

Chapman is entering his final season under team control and will be eligible for arbitration — Kimbrel's contract is through 2018. After next year Chapman will be a free agent, which means any team trying to deal for him would risk giving up assets for just one year of the closer's services. That limits the market for Chapman, but when it comes to a player as talented as he is, teams will be interested.

Chapman recorded 33 saves in 36 opportunities last season with a 1.63 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He only blew two saves in 2014 and has 546 career strikeouts in 319 innings.

MLB.com reported Detroit, Arizona, Houston and Miami are among the clubs seeking a new closer.

In addition to Chapman, the Reds are said to be shopping and Jay Bruce, and they also reportedly are open to trading Todd Frazier and Joey Votto as part of their massive rebuild.