Is Aaron Blair On The Way Out?
By Joseph Jacquez
According to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation, Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Aaron Blair had his start for the Reno Aces shifted from Wednesday to Friday, and it could be directly related to a potential trade involving Reds closer Aroldis Chapman where Blair would be the centerpiece going back.
There is also a possibility according to Cotillo that he will be moved to the Dbacks rotation if Jeremy Hellickson or Rubby De La Rosa are traded.
With just 14 plus hours till the trade deadline, the Diamondbacks haven’t done much despite saying they would be active as buyers especially after the team has won 5 games in a row.
This Chapman to the Diamondbacks rumor has really started to pick up over the last hour or so on social media, and I just feel like this trade could go down any moment.
According to Derrick Hall, the Diamondbacks want Brad Ziegler to be the 7th or 8th inning guy so they can add a dominant closer to make the back end of the bullpen better for this year and next year. Chapman is arbitration eligible for next year.
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Blair, the Diamondbacks no.3 prospect behind Dansby Swanson and Braden Shipley is viewed by many as major league ready as early as the beginning of next season, so much so he could get a September call up.
Blair was promoted to the Aces after going 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 starts across 83.1 innings pitched.
However since the promotion Blair has really struggled going 3-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 5 starts allowing 30 hits in 29.2 innings.
Despite wanting Chapman, General Manager Dave Stewart also said he didn’t want to deal top prospects and make any moves that would hurt the farm system and the future of the club.
Ken Rosenthal tweeted not to long ago that Chapman to the Dbacks has to do with the a new TV deal beginning next season and the fact that the Dbacks are poised to spend.
I don’t know it dealing Blair for Chapman is necessarily the right move considering Chapman probably won’t sign an extension and leave as a free agent after 2016 anyway.