The Cubs and Yankees have completed their trade for NY closer Aroldis Chapman, according to Major League Baseball reporter Jon Heyman, with Chicago sending prospects Gleyber Torres and Billy McKinney, former Yankees pitcher Adam Warren and possibly an additional player to the Bronx.
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The Cubs paid a steep price, parting with Torres, versatile pitcher Adam Warren and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.
Chapman can help any bullpen, as he’s hands down one of the best relievers in baseball.
Chapman has 20 saves, a 2.01 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings across 31 appearances this season, all while wowing Yankee Stadium crowds with a fastball which has reached 105 miles-per-hour. Closer Aroldis Chapman is coming to the North Side in exchange for the Cubs’ top prospect, infielder Gleyber Torres.
From the Yankees perspective, the decision to trade for Chapman could hardly have worked out better. The Cubs, meanwhile, are 59-38 with a 7.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.
It appears that the Chicago Cubs have acquired closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees in a multi-player deal.
Chapman’s teammates are hoping the deal doesn’t go through.
Chapman, however, served a 30-game suspension at the start of this season under Major League Baseball’s new policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
“I don’t know if the Yankees would trade Nova to a team in their division, but I think he’d be a nice fit for Baltimore”, a National League scout told Miller.
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.
“Obviously, we are aware of the circumstances surrounding Aroldis Chapman’s suspension earlier this season”, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said. Torres immediately becomes one of their best prospects, if not their best. Even though the Cubs likely never would have seen those young players make a major impact at the MLB level due to the talent they now have at all positions, it is hard to give up that many prospects.
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This is quite a haul for the Yankees with Chapman making it clear that he wants to test the free agent waters after the season. Warren was actually traded from the Yankees to the Cubs in 2015 for Starlin Castro. He was part of the 2014 trade that brought Addison Russell to Chicago from Oakland.
