Earlier this offseason reports surfaced of accusations of domestic violence against then Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. However, those accusations have not materialized in to official charges according to reports out today.
Champan was upfront with investigators according to reports:
Chapman admitted to investigators that there had been an argument at his house on Oct. 30 and that he fired several gunshots into the concrete wall of his garage, where he had locked himself alone. However, he denied physically assaulting his girlfriend.
On Thursday, the prosecutor’s office refused to turn those allegations into charges, but it doesn’t mean Chapman is out of the woods yet. Major League Baseball could choose to get involved and discipline him under the league’s domestic violence policy.
The closer’s attorneys issued a statement after learning that charges were not going to be filed.
“We are all pleased that the Davie Police Department and the Office of the State Attorney took the time to fully investigate the matter and have concluded that charges were not warranted,” said Chapman’s lawyer, Paul Molle, via the Sun Sentinel.
The accusations scuttled a trade deal the Reds had worked out with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Reds ended up working out a deal in December to move Chapman to the Yankees instead.
Chapman was traded to the Yankees for a quartet of minor leaguers. Third baseman Eric Jagielo headed to Cincinnati, as will second baseman Tony Renda and right-handers and Caleb Cotham.
The hard-throwing Chapman finished last season with a career low in saves since becoming a full-time closer (33), but did maintain a crazy 1.66 ERA and a 4-4 record on a Reds team that feel off as the season went along.