Chapman figures to slot into the closer role for the Cubs, bumping Hector Rondon into the setup position.
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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.
The Yanks still would have two All-Star relievers in their bullpen without Chapman in Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, but getting an A-ball prospect wouldn’t help them this year. The Yankees have 2 other good prospects that play shortstop and outfield.
Another player going to the Yankees is outfielder Billy McKinney, whose prospect stock has fallen in the previous year. He was traded to Chicago in the December deal that moved infielder Starlin Castro from the Cubs to the Yankees.
If, after moving Chapman, the Yankees make a trade for Miller, and Carlos Beltran, and Ivan Nova, and whomever else they can convince someone to take off their hands, then OK.
“I think when the right buy or sell circumstance presents itself, this department will be making a recommendation to ownership and they will tell us what they want”, Cashman said.
The Rangers were supposedly expressing interest in Chapman, but they weren’t going to part with a package like the one the Cubs gave up – Torres is a top 25-30 prospect, and McKinney and Warren are very solid pieces as well.
But the Cubs believe Chapman, who has a 2.01 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 311/3 innings, is worth the cost and controversy surrounding him.
Torres and Jimenez are two of the Cubs’ top prospects and were signed to bonuses worth a combined $4.5 million out of the global draft in 2013. 252 with one homer, 31 RBIs and a. 677 OPS in 88 games at Double-A Tennessee this season.
So Ricketts and Epstein asked Major League Baseball for a window to speak with the left-hander, and they got him on the phone Monday. This move was definitely a win for the Yankees. The Dodgers had a deal in place last winter to acquire Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds, but they backed off after learning that Chapman was the subject of a domestic violence investigation.
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The Yankees with this trade are all but declaring themselves out of the race for the postseason.
