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.
I think the deal was great. We got a considerable number of players for one guy that we’ll probably re-sign after the season ends. And getting Warren back means we only traded one player for Castro. I’m not sure exactly what they are going to do with Torres. Maybe he’ll end up at 1st or in the outfield – anything can happen. I don’t see Castro being that phenomenal so if the kid does end up replacing him at 2nd it probably wouldn’t be a terrible thing. In the meantime, last night’s win, although a bit scary at the end, was a great W – Miller really is a closer and if we had to lose him or Chapman, I’m glad it wasn’t Miller. Let’s hope they stay on the right track – the post season is not impossible yet. GO YANKEES!!!
It sounds from his statements like Chapman would like to sign with the Yankees next year, Diane, but who knows if the Yankees would give him the long-term contract he’ll inevitably ask for and get. No, the postseason isn’t impossible. They just need to keep winning. Simple, right?
It was nice to go to sleep last night feeling pretty secure with a five-run lead,enough of a cushion to withstand a couple of solo home runs. I haven’t been able to do that too many times this season.
As for the trade – the consensus seems to be the Yankees got the better deal and so far, so good! The Boys have won eight of their last ten games and are slowly making their way up out of the depths. We’re four games over .500 – yay!
I’m amazed by this winning streak, Audrey! They’re positively surging! I don’t know what it’ll all mean, but it sure is more fun than losing. Beating Houston again last night was great. Congrats to CC.
Losing the last game against Houston was sad, but they won the series so that’s pretty good. I don’t know why, but for at least the last 20 years, The Yankees can’t seem to hit against a pitcher whom they’ve never faced before, and that’s what happened in that game.
Now…can they beat the heck out of Tampa?! They have been doing well against 1st place teams but not so well against last place teams – so this could get ugly. But let’s hope they are headed in the right direction and will go on a tear to keep themselves in the running for the post season. GO YANKEES!!!
You’re right about the Yankees having a thing about facing new pitchers, Diane. But onto Tampa. You never know what’ll happen at the Trop, but if we can’t beat the Rays this weekend it’ll be a lost opportunity.
Sell mode it is. I sure hate to see Miller go. I would feel better about it if Cashman had even moderate success with developing prospects. Probably just throwing good money after bad. Yes – I am sad.
After the losses in Tampa, I knew this was coming, Terry. Hard to lose Miller. I loved him. But it sounds like we got good prospects from Cleveland. That said, I just read that we got Tyler Clippard back from the Diamondbacks and I totally don’t get that one. Either they’re in sell mode or they’re holding out for a playoff spot. Can’t hedge bets. Doesn’t work.
I’m devastated, Jane. Not just for losing all 3 to The Rays, but for losing Miller. It certainly looks like Chapman wants to come back and he probably will, and I know we got some more very good players for Miller, but this is essentially saying that this season is over. Ugh! I know they are doing well with trying to build for the future, but as a Yankees fan I’m always still in the current season. GO YANKEES???
I was waiting until tonight, after the 4pm deadline to see if there were any other trades before doing another post, Diane, but yes, losing Miller was a tough one. Loved him. On the other hand, I’ve been in the “Sell” camp for awhile now. The game has changed and we’ve needed to get younger and more athletic for some time. I see this as a good thing. The old model doesn’t work anymore. If they somehow get a playoff spot, great. But looking to the future is where a championship lies.