Speculation circulated Monday that one reason why the teams have not announced the trade is because the Cubs are attempting to sign Chapman, a free agent after this season, to a long-term deal. “I feel like part of the family here”. The 2016 trade deadline passes on August 1. Chapman faced a domestic-violence allegation in the offseason that led to a 29-game suspension, and the left-hander is eligible for free agency after this year.
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With left-handed hitters such as Bryce Harper of Washington and the Giants’ Brandon Belt possibly looming in the playoffs, Chapman gives manager Joe Maddon one of the majors’ top assets when in need of a late strikeout.
Torres, a 19-year-old at Class A, is the centerpiece of the deal for the Yankees.
The Yankees, meanwhile, acquire several prospects as well as Adam Warren, whom they traded to the Cubs in December for Starlin Castro.
“We’re disappointed we swung and missed in our efforts to sign him as an worldwide free agent back in the 2013 class, but certainly you keep your eyes on players you’ve liked in the past and he was definitely a target for us”, Cashman said. He will likely take over the closer role from Hector Rondon, who will move to the setup role in the eighth inning. So the best they can hope to do is (almost) match last year’s success, if everything goes flawlessly; already, they are one loss worse after eight innings.
“I can not wait to take the mound at Wrigley Field and look forward to helping my team-mates deliver a championship to Chicago”, Chapman said via a statement from the Cubs.
“I’ve been in this situation before”, the 39-year-old said.
According to Baseball America’s recent mid-season rankings, Torres is the 27th best prospect in baseball.
The Yankees are getting four prospects and they’ll still have an elite bullpen with All-Stars Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller setting up and closing games.
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McKinney, 21, was acquired in the five-player trade with the Oakland Athletics two years ago. Torres had a.275 batting average with 9 homeruns and 47 RBI’s in single A advanced with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Among the other three players is outfielder Billy McKinney, a former first-round pick of the Oakland A’s who was rated Chicago’s seventh-best prospect by BA.
