Yankees: Remembering Brian Cashman’s Best Trades on His Birthday

1. Aroldis Chapman-Gleyber Torres Swap

Aroldis Chapman received his Chicago Cubs World Series ring, then went back to the Yankees.

The Aroldis Chapman gambit, beginning-to-end, was probably the most ruthless move of the Cashman era. It’s also set the Yankees up for their next decade of success. This one was a win-win-win-win.

The NYY acquired Chapman at a steep discount following the 2015 season, knowing he’d be facing a domestic violence-related suspension. The charges ended up being dropped, and Chapman missed 30 games, but he was acquired in exchange for Eric Jagielo (the guy picked before Aaron Judge), Caleb Cotham (now a coach!), Tony Renda, and Rookie Davis.

Months later, with the Yanks unable to repeat their magical 2015 Wild Card campaign and falling out of the race, Chapman was sent to the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs, who were in desperate need of a closer and a workhorse. Despite blowing Game 7 of the World Series under great duress (Joe Maddon, what were you doing that series?), Chapman’s team picked him up in extras, and the deal worked out for Chicago!

Except, well…for that half-season, Cashman finagled GLEYBER TORRES, Billy McKinney, and Adam Warren in the deal. And at the conclusion of the World Series, Chapman cakewalked right back to the Bronx. Two months later, Cash had every piece of this deal back in pinstripes, and a future icon in Torres secured.

Talk about a masterwork.