Aroldis Chapman Headed to Chicago Cubs, Yankees Land Prospects
The Chicago Cubs have acquired veteran closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees in a deal the team hopes will put them over the top in the franchise's quest for its first World Series win in more than a century.
Reports are the Cubs sent top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres to the Yankees, along with fellow minor leaguer Billy McKinney, veteran reliever Adam Warren and an unidentified fourth player.
A free-agent after this season, several media outlets have reported the Cubs have already initiated talks with Chapman in hopes of locking him into a long-term deal.
Chapman Already on the way
Chapman is expected to spend most of the day on Monday traveling to Chicago to join his new team, which faces the crosstown rival White Sox later that evening.
The 28-year-old hard-throwing lefty fills an immediate need for the Cubs, already owners of the best record (59-38) in baseball and a 7.5 game lead over the hated St. Louis Cardinals in National League Central.
After serving a 30-game suspension under the league's domestic abuse policy to open the season, Chapman went 3-0 with 20 saves for the Yanks with a 2.01 ERA. In just over 31 innings, Chapman notched 44 strikeouts against just eight walks.
Cub's Bullpen Stacked
In acquiring the man who has regularly hit the radar gun at 100-plus MPH this season, the Cubs are hoping to bolster a bullpen that already includes closer Hector Rondon and setup men Pedro Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and Mike Montgomery.
The 19-year-old Torres is rated one of the top prospects in baseball as a rising Class A star, while the 21-year-old McKinney was part of a 2014 trade with Oakland that also brought the team current starting shortstop Addison Russell.
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