Aroldis Chapman was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in exchange for four players in a major blockbuster trade.
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The Cubs paid a steep price, parting with top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres and versatile pitcher Adam Warren, a former North Carolina star, in the four-player package going to the Yankees.
Chapman would fill one of the few remaining holes on a loaded Cubs roster – that of an experienced left-handed reliever.
Even with the concern about Chapman’s future with the Cubs long-term, this deal was worth it. Epstein has been known to work big deals with big names in the past and will likely attempt to do so with Chapman when the season ends assuming the two parties work well together.
After serving a 30-day Major League Baseball suspension due to violation of the domestic violence policy, Chapman posted a 2.01 ERA for the Yankees with 20 saves in 21 attempts. The 28-year-old Cuban was 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA, 20 saves and 44 strikeouts with the Yankees this season.
We are still a week away from the trade deadline and expect the Yankees to stay active.
“We’re disappointed we swung and missed in our efforts to sign him as an global free agent back in the 2013 class, but certainly you keep your eyes on players you’ve liked in the past and he was definitely a target for us”, Cashman said.
The trade reunites Warren with Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
“This was an easy call, and this was the right call”, general manager Brian Cashman said. The flamethrower was sidelined the first 30 games of the season, as he had an alleged domestic violence case in the offseason. Jon Heyman first reported the news on Monday.
If New York slips back any further, it could engage in a rare sell-off for the franchise.
“I am excited about today’s trade and look forward to joining the Chicago Cubs and meeting my new teammates”, he said. Miller, who is signed through 2018, also could be traded.
Nova, 29, has posted a 7-5 record and 4.65 ERA in 20 starts for the Yankees in his third straight rough season.
“As you know, earlier this year I accepted and served a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball resulting from my actions of October 30, 2015”.
Torres is the No. 24 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, and has a.275 batting average with the Class-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Warren, a 2009 fourth-round pick by the Yankees, spent three years with their big-league club before he was dealt to Chicago in December for Starlin Castro.
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Baseball America ranked Torres No. 27 on its Midseason Top 100 prospects list earlier this month and he is the highest-ranked Cubs prospect on the list.
