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MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees And Cubs Discussing Trade For Aroldis Chapman

By Phillip Dengler
Published on: 06:43 PST, Jun 10, 2016

While the 2016 MLB non-waiver trade deadline is not until August 1 at 4 p.m. ET, rumors are already swirling regarding some of the league’s best players. With a record of 30-30, it is unlikely that the New York Yankees will make the playoffs this year in the tough AL East. And even though they are only three games out of the second wild-card spot, there are probably too many more-talented teams ahead of them to make a serious push. Since the Yankees will not qualify for the playoffs this year, an elite closer such as Aroldis Chapman is nothing more than an unneeded luxury with the direction the franchise is heading. Nothing is imminent, but the latest report states that the Yankees are discussing a trade with the Chicago Cubs for Chapman.

As MLB insider Christopher Meola reported earlier today, the other names in the proposed deal could be coming out later today. While Meola does not work for a major media source, he has broken major MLB news in the past, as reported by Deadspin. Additionally, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal, two of the most trusted MLB sources in the media, follow Meola on Twitter.

As Pinstripe Alley notes, the deal make sense for both teams.

“The Yankees have been eyeing to flip Chapman from the get-go, especially since he becomes a free agent at the end of this season. The Cubs, on the other hand, are a nearly perfect team in search of a final piece, and in terms of talent, Chapman is that guy. The Cubs’ bullpen currently consists of Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Trevor Cahill, Travis Wood, and Justin Grimm. Adding Chapman would make them untouchable, essentially.”

Since Chapman is going to become a free agent at the end of the year, it does not make sense for the Yankees to hold onto him for the rest of the year. They are not going to make the playoffs, and Chapman is one of their best trade pieces. The fact that Chapman is in the final year of his deal should not be a huge problem for the Cubs since they are legitimate World Series contenders this season. As Cubs’ fans know, it is not too often that a franchise is a decisive favorite to win the World Series, so it is important that the team does everything possible to maximize their chances of winning a championship.

In 15 games this season, Chapman has an ERA of 1.93, 11 saves, and 21 strikeouts. He has not given up a home run this season, and he has only walked three batters. The bottom line is that Chapman is still one of the top closers in the game. With a team ERA of 2.61, the Cubs already have the best overall pitching staff in the MLB. Their bullpen ERA of 3.39 is currently the eighth best in the MLB. While their bullpen is already great, Chapman could go a long way towards making it the league’s best.

The only question is whether or not the Cubs are going to give up the talent that the Yankees desire. As SB Nation reports, the Cubs farm system is down this year compared to 2015. The reason is that many of their former top prospects are now in the majors. Regardless, the Cubs’ farm system still has a lot of solid prospects, and they could likely put together an enticing enough package for the Yankees. As Meola noted, potential names in the deal could be coming over the next few days.

Since the MLB trade deadline is still over a month and a half away, rumors will continue to speculate regarding the possibility that the New York Yankees trade Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs. While the teams are reportedly in discussions, it is unknown whether or not there is a timetable for the potential completion of the deal.

[Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]

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