The Yankees reportedly tried to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Chapman but after he and his representatives said they wanted to test the free-agent market after the season they made a decision to deal him.
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A deal that would send New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for a package including Class A shortstop Gleyber Torres was close to completion Sunday night, according to reports from ESPN and Today’s Knuckleball.
Chapman has 165 saves over the past five seasons with the Reds and Yankees, and his fastball was clocked at 105 miles per hour numerous times last week. The Cubs championship drought is well-documented, but it appears Theo Epstein is getting behind his talented young hitters and veteran pitchers and going all-in. They have the offense and the starting pitchers, but the Cubs were lacking that power arm to come out of the bullpen and close games.
With lefty-batting sluggers Bryce Harper of Washington and Brandon Belt of San Francisco possibly looming in the playoffs, the addition of Chapman gives manager Joe Maddon one of the majors’ top assets when in need of a late strikeout.
And if presented a chance this winter, Chapman could see himself rejoining the Yankees as a free agent.
Could the Yankees trade Beltran? According to MLBPipeline.com, he is the 24th-ranked prospect in all of baseball and the top-ranked prospect in the Cubs’ farm system. Law said of Torres: “He’s hitting.270/.348/.423 as one of only three teenage regulars in the Carolina League, and doing so even though his home park is death on power”. Current Cubs closer Hector Rondon has 18 saves and a 1.95 ERA and likely will move into an eighth-inning role. McKinney, an outfielder, is a former first-round pick (24th overall) playing for Class AA Tennessee.
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The Yankees also will receive pitcher Adam Warren, who the Cubs originally acquired in an off-season trade with the Yankees that sent second baseman Starlin Castro to NY. The Yankees are taking a flier on McKinney and hoping that he is a buy-low candidate and can rejuvenate his game with a change of scenery. He has 19 stolen bases in 29 attempts.
