According to a report from Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Cubs have acquired star reliever Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees in exchange for four players.
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Likewise, the prospect of trading Chapman for one of the top prospects in the game, as well as a proven major league pitcher who has been here before, is too good for them to pass up in July.
The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs were reported to be in the final stages of a trade that would send closer Aroldis Chapman to the National League Central leaders this morning, according to Fox’s Ken Rosenthal.
Prosecutors declined to file charges, citing conflicting accounts, and Chapman was suspended for the first 29 games of the season.
“Obviously, we are aware of the circumstances surrounding Aroldis Chapman’s suspension earlier this season”.
Chapman fills a big need for the Cubs, as they lacked a late inning left-handed option.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, in a statement, said he, Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer spoke with Chapman.
Torres was the top prospect in the Cubs minor league system, and was playing with the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Chicago already has the best record in baseball (59-38) and now Chicagoans can really start to dream of ending their 108-year-long World Series drought. But the Chapman trade is a pretty strong indicator that NY is intent on selling, and Nova could be the next piece that moves.
In a July game at Great American Ballpark in July 2014, Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo took exception to several of Chapman’s pitches sailing near the heads of a few teammates. The Yankees knew they might lose him, thereby engaging in trade talks could prove beneficial for them as they could get something out of it in the end.
Shortstop Gleyber Torres, who was previously regarded as the Cubs’ No. 1 overall prospect, now finds himself in the same position with the Yankees. 275 with a. 359 on-base percentage, a. 433 slugging percentage, nine homers and 47 RBIs.
No, Chapman, 28 and lugging some heavy domestic-abuse baggage, was not going to drag the Yanks into October, but neither will those four trinkets collected this afternoon.
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The Hot Stove is heating up, and we are still a week away from the trade deadline.
