Around 6:00 am (PT) on Monday morning, Dodger fans on the West Coast awoke to the news that the Dodgers had acquired prized left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds – news that immediately put them into a state of euphoria. But by midday there had still been no official announcement from either team that the trade had gone through, thus causing Dodger fans some concern that something was up.

By 7:00 pm (PT) that concern turned to utter despair when Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown and Jeff Passan reported that the trade had been immediately halted by the Dodgers when they learned that the 27-year-old Holguin, Cuba native had been involved in a recent domestic dispute with his girlfriend in which Chapman reportedly fired several gunshots into a garage wall of his Davie, Florida home. According to the article Chapman was not arrested nor were any charges filed due to the lack of visible injuries and the girlfriend’s unwillingness of cooperate with prosecutors.

Shortly after the Yahoo Sports article ran and to the surprise of no one, Chapman’s attorney Jay Reisinger immediately issued a statement on behalf of his client.

“I’ve reviewed the facts as portrayed,” Reisinger told Yahoo Sports on Monday night. “On behalf of Mr. Chapman, we vehemently deny the allegations as stated. Beyond that, we have no further comment at this time.”

Aroldis Chapman isn’t the only Cuban player currently being investigated under MLB’s new domestic violence policy. Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is also currently under investigation for allegedly pushing his sister in a Miami nightclub on November 25. (Photo credit – Hannah Foslien)

As expected, when MLB became aware of the incident earlier in the day, they too issued a statement, albeit very brief.

“We negotiated a domestic violence policy and with information like this, we would commence an investigation,” said an unidentified MLB spokesman.

Although this incident will undoubtedly delay any immediate trade involving Chapman, it will still more than likely happen. However, one has to believe that his trade value may have taken a huge hit due to the seriousness of the allegations.