The Los Angeles Dodgers have made no secret about their offseason pursuit of a front-of-the-rotation starter to pair with ace Clayton Kershaw and keep them as legitimate World Series contenders.The options are abundant, and they include their own free agent, Zack Greinke, and David Price, likely to be the games next $200 million man. Signing one of those top-end starters seems almost inevitable for the Dodgers, but so too should be a massive bullpen upgrade, as that part of the club has been a soft spot over the last two regular and postseasons.Considering the Dodgers desire to collect the best talent available and with monetary cost of relatively minimal concern, they have to go after the best reliever available. That would be Cincinnati Reds flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman, a dominant back-end arm the Dodgers could pair with current closer Kenley Jansen to build arguably the best 1-2 bullpen punch on the planet.The Dodgers could name either the closer or mix and match them in the eighth and ninth innings depending on matchups. Either would work as long as both pitchers bought into the arrangement a year before both can become free agents, and the thought has crossed the bright front-office minds in Los Angeles, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, who reported about a week ago that the Dodgers have checked in with the Reds about their closer.They won't, but the #Dodgers should absolutely go full boar after Aroldis Chapman. Changes dynamic of team with he and Kenley together #MLB Casey Stern (@CaseyStern) November 16, 2015With former San Diego Padres closer Craig Kimbrel being taken off the market after his trade to the Boston Red Sox, Chapman is easily the best reliever available in trade or free agency.Since becoming the Reds full-time closer in 2012, Chapman has compiled a 1.90 ERA, 145 saves, a 1.74 FIP, 206 ERA+, 0.958 WHIP and has averaged 16.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 4.18 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has also made four consecutive National League All-Star teams and is coming off a year in which he had a 1.63 ERA.Since 2012, FanGraphs WAR calculations, which put heavy emphasis on strikeouts, has Chapman as the most valuable reliever in the majors. Kimbrel is second, with Jansen pulling in the bronze medal.Putting two of those arms in the same bullpen, even for one season, could be a franchise-changing move that would go a long way in helping the Dodgers succeed in October, a month in which they have disappointed the last two seasons in part because they did not have trustworthy relievers before Jansen.The Dodgers featured Kershaw and Greinke in last seasons rotation, but it was a jumble of questions beyond those two for much of the year, including the playoffs. Couple that with an unreliable bullpenits 3.86 ERA over the last two years ranks 23rd in the majorsand it led to early postseason exits for a team with the games highest payroll.So even if the Dodgers re-sign Greinkewho had the lowest ERA in the majors last seasonor Price and get back a healthy Hyun-jin Ryu, it still leaves them with significant bullpen holes before Jansen. In the age of building dominant bullpens to mask mediocre rotations, the Dodgers should go this route, even though their rotation could end up better than most.That leads the discussion back to Chapman, although reports have the Dodgers looking in other directions that will not cost them a group of major league-ready prospects, which is what the Reds are looking for and considering now that the Padres got back a solid group of four prospects from the Red Sox for Kimbrel.The Dodgers are reported to be in hotter pursuit of lower-profile relievers, including Darren ODay, who might be the best free-agent reliever on the market with his 1.92 ERA over his last four seasons and a 1.52 mark in 2015 for the Baltimore Orioles. ODay, 33, is said to be looking for a four-year deal."He'll probably get it from the Dodgers," one rival general manager told Heyman.Heard today that the #Dodgers are pursuing Darren O'Day "big time.'' It was the 2nd person in a week to mention it. Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 19, 2015The Dodgers have also contacted Ryan Madson, according to Heyman. In his first major league season since 2011, Madson had a 2.13 ERA with the Kansas City Royals in 2015.The Dodgers have the prospects to go after Chapman, though. He is projected to make about $13 million next season, and the team could pull it off without giving up its best and brightest youngsters, like Corey Seager, Julio Urias or Jose De Leon. Chapman is worth the cost in money and players, and the Dodgers have the need for him.While this is a short-term fix since Chapman and Jansen will be free agents after next season, it is the kind of temporary aid that could lead to the franchises first World Series title since 1988 should the Dodgers shock the market and deal for him.All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired firsthand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.
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