Yankees Finalizing Aroldis Chapman Trade with Cubs

The New York Yankees reportedly have the framework for a trade that would send Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs.

In all likelihood, Aroldis Chapman has thrown his last pitch for the Yankees. General manager Brian Cashman has found a favorable return in the Cubs’ top prospect, shortstop Gleyber Torres, who was scratched from Chicago’s High-A lineup when talks between the two sides heated up.

Ken Rosenthal announced Saturday night that the Yankees were nearing the end of Chapman discussions and had forewarned teams to submit their best and final offers.

The last-call message pitted the Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and an unidentified team into a dogfight for Chapman’s services. The Yankees moved on from the Giants’ weak farm system and ended conversation with the Nats due to their unwillingness to offer top prospects. The Indians became temporary favorites to land the Yankees’ closer, but have now been unseated by the Cubs.

If the trade were to transpire, Jon Heyman says the Yankees will receive Torres and a secondary piece. Torres, signed out of Venezuela in 2013, is ranked as MLB.com’s No. 24 prospect and is batting .275 with nine home runs and 23 doubles in High-A ball. He profiles as an above-average big league shortstop, but has the tools to transition to second or third base if necessary.

According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report:

"“[Torres] has a quick right-handed swing and a mature approach, recognizing pitches well and using the entire field. Once Torres gets stronger and learns to pull pitches more often, he could produce 15 or more homers per season. Torres seemed a half-step quicker in 2015, enhancing his chances of staying at shortstop. … While Torres’ range may be just average, his instincts and strong arm allow him to make plays. If he has to change positions, he’d profile well offensively and defensively at either second or third base.”"

On the 20-80 scouting scale, MLB Pipeline grades Torres’s hit tool 60, power 45, running 55, arm 60, and fielding 55.

He would likely join Yankees No. 1 prospect Jorge Mateo at their High-A affiliate, so a position change may be required if the two are to develop in the system together. Mateo had split time between shortstop and second base before earning a two-week suspension for scorning organization executives for not yet being promoted to Double-A Trenton.

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The aforementioned secondary piece is speculated to be outfielder Jorge Soler, who owns a career .258 average and 20 homers across three MLB seasons. Chicago writer Julie DiCaro (Twitter link) believes New York would have to add Carlos Beltran, Michael Pineda or Nathan Eovaldi for such a scenario, although it hasn’t been confirmed.

The legs on a Chapman-for-Torres-plus deal are in place, but Baseball Prospectus’ Rian Watt (Twitter link) hears it could hinge on the Cubs’ ability to extend Chapman beyond the end of this season. Tommy Stokke (link) reports the clubs are hopeful to finalize by Monday.

Chapman has been a lock-down closer for the Yankees since returning from a domestic violence suspension on May 9. The “Cuban Missile” has a 2.01 ERA, 12.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 31.1 innings. He tied his own Statcast record for the fastest pitch thrown earlier in the season, topping out at a blistering 105.1 mph. The Yankees flipped four middle-of-the-road prospects for Chapman last off-season, when the severity of his punishment was undetermined.

Next: Yankees Altering Trade Approach with Team's Daily Results

Brian Cashman has the chance to turn a half-season of Chapman into a controllable, middle-infield star. The Yankees have Mateo and Didi Gregorius supplanted at the shortstop position, but acquiring top talent and sorting later is the goal of trading. With eight days until the Aug. 1 trade deadline, this rumor at least shows owner Hal Steinbrenner is budging from his “no sell” stance and letting Cashman do his job.