Yankees Acquire Aroldis Chapman For Four Minor Leaguers

The New York Yankees acquired flame throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for four minor league players.

In exchange for Chapman, the Reds get third baseman Eric Jagielo, second baseman Tony Renda, and right handed pitchers Rookie Davis and Caleb Cotham.

The move gives the Yankees potentially one of the best bullpens in Major League Baseball history. Chapman would team with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances to provide a seventh, eighth and ninth innings stone wall for opposition batters. [related category]

Speculation is already growing as to whether the Yankees will keep all three of the dominant relievers. Miller has been a subject of trade rumors since the completion of the 2015 season. But a major concern for the Yankees is the looming possibility of a suspension to Chapman by MLB. That stems from domestic violence allegations. Baseball has a newly implemented domestic violence policy, that could cause commissioner Rob Manfred to impose an extended suspension.

But Chapman’s on-field success is indisputable. ¨Strictly looking at Chapman’s on-field resumé, the results are astounding,¨ MLB Trade Rumors reports. ¨In 2015, he worked to a 1.63 ERA with 15.7 K/9, 4.5 BB/9 and a 37.1 percent ground-ball rate. Over the past four seasons in Cincinnati, the Cuban-born phenom has delivered an exceptional 1.90 ERA while averaging 16.1 strikeouts and 3.8 walks per nine innings to go along with an average of 36 saves per season. Chapman is known for his blistering fastball; the left-hander averaged 100.3 mph on his heater in 2014 and followed that up with a similarly incredulous 99.5 mph average this past season.¨

Jagielo was the Yankees number one draft choice in 2013. He is ranked as the number seven third base prospect in the entire MiLB. Davis has been rated as high as the Yankees sixth best prospect. Cotham impressed with a 1.74 ERA in triple A, but struggled in his major league debut this past season. Renda placed 22nd in MLB.com´s top 30 when the Yankees acquired him from the Nationals.