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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Aroldis Chapman Reportedly Traded to Chicago Cubs

Adam Wells
Jul 16, 2016

As the New York Yankees remain stagnant in the standings, Aroldis Chapman's impending free agency made him an attractive trade chip, and the club reportedly cashed in on Monday.

Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reported the Yankees and Chicago Cubs reached a deal for the closer. According to Heyman, the Cubs will give up prospects Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, Adam Warren and "likely [one] more" in exchange for Chapman. Patrick Mooneyย of CSN Chicago added that the other player involved is Rashad Crawford, noting the deal is being finalized.

Bob Nightengale ofย USA Today added that the Cubs do not have a contract extension with Chapman, noting the Yankees "tried themselves and [were] rebuffed."

On July 21,ย Julie DiCaroย of 670 The Score, citing a source, reported the Cubs were "not willing to pay" what the Yankees wanted for Chapman or Andrew Miller. DiCaro added that Kyle Schwarber's name had come up in talks. Joel Shermanย of theย New York Post reported the "Cubs would not discuss Schwarber, even for Miller. Theo Epstein made clear from beginning to [the Yankees]ย that Schwarber was not in play."

After being suspended for the first 30 games of this season for violating MLB's domestic violence policy, Chapman returned looking like the dominant closer he's been throughout his big league career.

In 31.1 innings, he's recorded a 2.01 ERA, 20 saves and 44 strikeouts with eight walks and 20 hits allowed.

All of those big contracts the Yankees handed out years ago appear to be backfiring on them this year. Mark Teixeira has struggled to stay healthy, Alex Rodriguez has been relegated to bench duty lately with a .256 on-base percentage, and Jacoby Ellsbury isn't hitting for power or stealing bases like he once did.

CC Sabathia has been effective in the starting rotation, but Masahiro Tanaka is the only regular starter with an ERA under 4.04.

Chapman makes sense as a trade chip because he'll be a free agent this offseason. The Cubs, in search of their first World Series title in more than a century, weren't deterred by the risk of him being a rental.

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