Dusty Baker will not use Aroldis Chapman for multi-inning work

In the latest instance of a Major League manager refusing to consider anything but by-the-book bullpen use, Reds manager Dusty Baker reiterated to the media that he will not use closer Aroldis Chapman for more than one inning:

Dusty Baker just said he will not use Aroldis Chapman in the 8th inning. Said the days of multi-inning closers are mostly over.

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) June 14, 2013

Dusty on not using Chapman in the 8th: "If something happens to Chapman, then I'm stuck with the people everybody wants you stay away from."

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) June 14, 2013

Baker’s worry over Chapman’s health is curious when juxtaposed with his use of Jonathan Broxton, who has been dealing with a sore elbow, yesterday. The Reds and Cubs were tied 5-5 entering the bottom of the 14th in Chicago. Rather than use Chapman, Baker brought in the less-than-100% Broxton, who ended up surrendering a walk-off single to Julio Borbon. Chapman never had an opportunity to pitch in the game.

Then, earlier today, the Reds official Twitter sent this out:

An ultrasound examination revealed swelling within the right elbow joint of Jonathan Broxton. He is day-to-day.

— Reds (@Reds) June 14, 2013

On this subject, Jonah Keri has a great column at Grantland, and he happened to be writing it while that 14th inning was in progress.

The White Sox have reportedly picked up first baseman Yonder Alonso from the Indians, according to Stadium. The return for Alonso is expected to be nothing more flashy than a “fringe prospect,” though the minutiae of the deal is still pending a formal announcement from both teams.

Alonso, 31, inked a two-year deal with the Indians during the 2017 offseason. His first campaign with the club yielded a modest .250/.317/.421 batting line, 23 home runs, .738 OPS and 0.7 fWAR in 574 PA. The real boon for the White Sox may not be a passable veteran bat, however, but something more intangible — like Alonso’s clout with his brother-in-law and highly-coveted free agent slugger, Manny Machado.

While Alonso’s 2018 output represented a significant decline from the career-best numbers he posted in 2017, he’s still a solid contributor at the plate and, more importantly, slated to remain under team control for the next two years with just $8 million owed in 2019 and a $9 million option in 2020. As MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince notes, the $17 million the Indians just erased from their payroll should give them enough room to accommodate the contracts for right-handers Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber — a bonus regardless of what they happen to get in the trade.