The New York Yankees announced on Monday they traded for Cincinnati Reds All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Cincinnati received a package of prospects in Caleb Cotham, Rookie Davis, Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda.
None of the four Minor Leaguers are from the Yankees’ elite group of talent, though MLB.com ranked Davis and Jagielo in the organization’s top-10 prospects.
The trade puts to bed any notion the Dodgers and Reds may revisit trade talks that fell apart at Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings.
Los Angeles was on the verge of acquiring the electric closer, only for a report of Chapman’s involvement in an alleged domestic violence incident to throw the trade into limbo.
Had the trade gone through, Jose Peraza was reported as being part of the Reds’ haul; Peraza still wound up in Cincinnati as part of a three-team trade.
Expectations and beliefs were the Dodgers had moved on, though manager Dave Roberts stated in mid-December a trade remained possible. Chapman recorded 33 saves with a 1.63 ERA, 1.94 FIP, 1.15 WHIP and 116 strikeouts over 66.1 innings (65 appearances) last season.
It was the fourth year he’s had at least that many saves, and Chapman has been named to the National League All-Star team each season over that same stretch. The Yankees bullpen now boasts a three-headed monster in Dellin Betances, Chapman and Andrew Miller.
It should be noted reports indicated New York was shopping Miller, with the Dodgers said to have been among the teams interested in the 30-year-old lefty.
However, Chapman does face the possibility of suspension as he’s being investigated by MLB over the alleged domestic violence incident. Should commissioner Rob Manfred suspend Chapman for a minimum of 46 games, it will delay the closer’s free agency to after the 2017 season.
