Chicago has acquired closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees, Jon Heyman of MLB Network and FanRag Sports reported late Monday morning. They have one of the most-talented starting pitchers in Jake Arrieta and they have now snagged a great closer by adding Aroldis Chapman in a five-player deal with the New York Yankees. The fourth player has yet to be identified by either of the reports.
Advertisement
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 chose to deal him.
Chapman was suspended for the first 30 games under MLB’s new domestic violence policy following an incident with his girlfriend previous year.
“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”. “I feel like part of the family here”. Chapman also brings along some off-the-field baggage and is eligible for free agency after this year. “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.
McKinney isn’t expected to be up in the major leagues until 2017. This season with the Yankees, Chapman has a 2.01 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 20 saves in 31.1 innings.
With one week to go until baseball’s trade deadline, Dodgers fans wait to see if their team will do what the Chicago Cubs just did.
If they do, no one will remember who the Cubs gave up for Chapman. For a Yankees deal with an aging roster, the acquisition of Chapman was a win-win – either the team performed well and they had a lockdown closer, or they could trade the powerful Cuban closer in order to help rebuild their farm system. The shortstop has spent the season with Single-A Myrtle Beach, batting.275/.359/.433 with nine home runs, 47 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases in 409 plate appearances. The Cubs also traded outfielder Billy McKinney, 21, who ranked among baseball’s top 30 prospects last summer and still ranks among the Cubs’ top 10 prospects.
NY had won six of eight heading into Monday night’s game at Houston, but it still faces long odds of getting to the playoffs. It’s not the first move he’s made this trade season, and it probably won’t be the last (though it might be the biggest).
Advertisement
The rumour mill was swirling Sunday with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Nationals and Cubs all looking likely to land the talented reliever as the Yankees offload to pick up young prospects.
