Aroldis Chapman

Reds manager Dusty Baker said it’s still unclear whether Aroldis Chapman will move into the rotation.

Baker intimated that the left-hander would probably begin the year in the bullpen, saying that the shoulder weakness Chapman experienced in the Arizona Fall League set him back. The Reds will probably still use Chapman as a starter during spring training, but he might not have sufficiently built up his innings for a move into the rotation.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Wednesday that Aroldis Chapman will not pitch in winter ball.

The original plan called for Chapman to pitch this winter in Puerto Rico, but the Reds decided against it after he was scratched from a start in the Arizona Fall League last week due to shoulder soreness. While the injury is not considered serious, the Reds understandably don’t want to take a chance with their investment. “There’s no injury,” said Jocketty. “We just want to make sure he’s 100 percent. He had the shoulder issue during the season.” While this would seem to hurt his chances of cracking the rotation in 2012, the Reds still intend to use him as a starting pitcher during spring training.