Via Jon Heyman:
The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs have a deal in place revolving around reliever Aroldis Chapman. Sources tell Today’s Knuckleball that Hal Steinbrenner has signed off on the deal that will send Chapman to the Cubs for prospects Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, Rashad Crawford and former Yankees pitcher Adam Warren.
Cubs top prospect Gleyber Torres (SS) is the centerpiece of the return for New York. MLB.com rated the 19-year-old as the 28th-best prospect in baseball and top in the Cubs’ talented system. Torres is hitting .275 with nine home runs in 94 games with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Pitcher Adam Warren is also said to be going to New York. After spending the last four seasons with the Yankees, Warren is 3-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 29 appearances with the Cubs this season.
McKinney is the fifth-rated prospect in the Cubs system and 75th overall, per MLB.com. Drafted by the Athletics with the 24th overall pick in 2013 and acquired by the Cubs in the same deal that netted them Addison Russell for pitcher Jeff Samardzija, the 21-year-old is currently hitting .252/.355/.322 in Double-A. Over his three-plus minor league seasons, he is slashing .281/.364/.408 with 22 home runs in 375 games.
Crawford, 22, is hitting .255 with three home runs and 30 RBI in 83 games for the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Chapman was originally acquired by the Yankees via trade with the Cincinnati Reds back on December 28. He went on to appear in 31 games while in pinstripes following his 30-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy.
A four-time All-Star, Chapman sports a 2.01 ERA alongside his perfect 3-0 record in 31.1 innings of work. He has 20 saves, one blown save and 44 strikeouts against eight walks this season.
He spent his first six big league campaigns as a member of the Reds. In his final season in Cincinnati in 2015, he posted a 1.63 ERA while converting 33 of his 36 save opportunities.
Obviously, we all knew this was coming – I wrote as much in my last post – but when I take a closer look at the deal, it makes me wonder. Torres sounds like a terrific young shortstop, though only 19 and playing in A-ball. My question is don’t we already have a good shortstop? And if the Yankees plan to move Torres to second base as is rumored, what happens to Castro? McKinney and Crawford look promising too, and it’ll be nice to have Adam Warren back in the pen, if the Yanks can fix whatever problems he’s been having in Chicago.
Maybe Cashman plans another trade or two, spinning off today’s haul. More to come.