It’s officially trade deadline day, and Brian Cashman is already busy at work. It seems like the Yankees and Padres are in a waiting game for closer Craig Kimbrel, but should that deal fall through, the Yankees are already exploring other bullpen options.
One option is Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. The Yankees were believed to have internal discussions on Chapman earlier on in the week, but according to multiple sources, talks have intensified as of this morning.
Yankees are reportedly one of 5 teams 'aggressively pursuing' Reds' Aroldis Chapman. http://t.co/WcTCz6Ktbk pic.twitter.com/jRIbCw2tEh
— theScore (@theScore) July 31, 2015
Now the Yankees said to be “aggressively pursuing” Aroldis Chapman http://t.co/XRZgOdySDf
— HardballTalk (@HardballTalk) July 31, 2015
The #Yankees are one of five teams aggressively pursuing #Reds Chapman to be their closer.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2015
Aside from the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks are also in the mix to land the flame throwing left-hander. Should the Yankees acquire one of Craig Kimbrel or Aroldis Chapman, they might just have the best bullpen in all of baseball. The Yankees have been unwilling to part ways with top prospects Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Gregory Bird and Jorge Mateo in exchange for Kimbrel, so it’ll be interesting to see if they move any of the four for Chapman, who comes with far less control. Champman is a free agent after the 2016 season.
The other reliever the Yankees are now connected to is Carter Capps of the Miami Marlins.
#Yankees may be getting tired of waiting around for #Padres on Kimbrel. Hear they're also talking to #Marlins about Carter Capps
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 31, 2015
Not only does Carter Capps have the best delivery in all of baseball, but he’ll cost much less than both Kimbrell and Chapman. Capps is still eligible for arbitration, and the 24-year old is 4-3 with a 1.21 ERA through 29.2 innings pitched out of the Marlins bullpen this season.
It looks as if the Yankees top priority is creating a super bullpen to go along with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. Perhaps they’ll deal for a top reliever and move Adam Warren back to to the starting rotation.
Time will certainly tell, but expect the Yankees to have a new addition to their bullpen when they take on the Chicago White Sox at 7:05 pm.
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Update: 10:51 am
The #Reds now have stronger offers for Chapman and the #Dbacks now considered a long shot for the closer.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2015
yankees have checked in on aroldis, as well. told "not likely" to happen.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2015
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Update: 12:20 pm
Looks like the Yankees are closing in on Craig Kimbrel.
Source: #Yankees are team in hottest pursuit of #Padres’ Kimbrel.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2015
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Update: 12:32 PM
There haven't been Craig Kimbrel discussions between the Padres and Yankees so far in this workday.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2015
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