UPDATE (12:43 p.m. ET): Aroldis Chapman has been traded from the New York Yankees to the Chicago Cubs, according to TodaysKnuckleball.com’s Jon Heyman.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark also confirmed the details of the deal, which will send minor league shortstop Gleyber Torres, minor league outfielder Billy McKinney and former Yankees pitcher Adam Warren, along with another player, to New York.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Chicago Cubs appear to be very close to adding some much-needed bullpen help.
According to multiple reports, the Cubs are near acquiring left-hander Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees. News of a potential trade agreement between the teams started to surface Sunday night, and it certainly seems like the deal could be completed Monday.
The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported Monday that Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner gave his blessing on the deal, with FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reporting the sides are working through the “final stages” of negotiations.
It sounds like the specifics still are being hammered out, as most baseball insiders reporting on the trade talks continue to say Cubs prospect Gleyber Torres would go to New York in the deal. It’s unclear what else the Yankees would acquire from the Cubs, but Sherman also added it’s likely New York would receive four players back.
Multiple reports indicated pitcher Adam Warren, who started his career with the Yankees, might be heading back to New York as part of the trade.
For the Cubs, the addition of Chapman would be huge. The lefty’s fastball routinely reaches 103 mph — and sometimes higher — and it’s one of the best pitches in baseball. The Cubs also are one of the best teams in baseball and have only a few holes, with relief pitching being one, so Chapman obviously addresses that issue.
Additionally, the Cubs wouldn’t part ways with prized outfielder Kyle Schwarber in the deal.
Read why the reported Chapman trade was a risk the Cubs had to take >>
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
