They have acquired flame-throwing left-hander Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees, who are playing the role of trade deadline seller for the first time in decades. This season with the Yankees, Chapman has a 2.01 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 20 saves in 31.1 innings. Hardy last Monday night, matching the fastest since Major League Baseball began tracking speeds in 2008.
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“Obviously we are aware of the circumstances surrounding Aroldis Chapman’s suspension earlier this season”, chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement addressing last winter’s domestic abuse allegations and the 30-day suspension that followed under baseball’s new domestic violence policy. “I think Pittsburgh would be a real nice fit, too, because of what they’ve done with past reclamation pitching prospects, guys like Edinson Volquez and Francisco Liriano”.
Chapman is expected to be in Chicago on Tuesday, when the Cubs play the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. “They’re fighting to get that ring, so it might be a good experience for me to be there”. Chapman was accused of choking his 22-year-old girlfriend and firing eight shots in his Florida home after last season but was not prosecuted due to conflicting information.
Despite trading for Chapman this off-season, the Yankees have made a decision to cash in on the talented reliever with the 100-mph fastball to get an infield prospect in Torres, who is hitting.275 with a.359 on-base percentage and.791 OPS.
“Finally, my family, this team and Major League Baseball take the issue of domestic violence very seriously and support efforts to reduce domestic violence through education, awareness and intervention”. Looking back, I feel I have learned from this matter and have grown as a person.
“There was genuine sorrow, regret”, Epstein said. This move comes just a few months after the Yankees acquired Chapman via trade from the Cincinnati Reds. Look for the Cubs to absolutely dominate the National League this year and at the end of close games they’ll for sure bring in the “The Cuban Missile”.
“I want to thank the New York Yankees for trusting and supporting me, and I wish nothing but the best for the Yankees organization and my former teammates”, said Chapman.
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But the centerpiece of the Yankees’ package is the 19-year-old Torres, one of the top infield prospects in baseball. “I shared with him the high expectations we set for our players and staff both on and off the field,” Ricketts said in a statement.
