WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Chapman appears to be a lock to be traded as Yankees look to move reliever
THE YANKEES and Cubs were working toward a deal Sunday night involving Aroldis Chapman and highly rated Cubs shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, according to multiple reports.
Torres was scratched from the lineup Sunday for Chicago’s Class-A affiliate.
Chapman said Sunday he didn’t know whether he was on the brink of being traded, but his agent and the Yankees have been in communication
“There’s a lot of rumors and stuff out there right now,” Chapman said through an interpreter after the Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the Giants at the Stadium. “I don’t have any information, but my agent did say that they’re talking to him. But that’s all I have.”
Fox Sports initially reported Saturday night that the Yankees were informing clubs they will trade the flamethrowing closer and hold onto fellow southpaw Andrew Miller, who’s under control for two more years. The Daily News reported that the Yanks made the decision to shop Chapman, an impending free agent, before the start of the Giants series when Hal Steinbrenner flew up from Tampa to speak with GM Brian Cashman, agreeing with Cashman on trading Chapman after Thursday’s loss to Baltimore.
“That’s something I have no control of,” Chapman said when asked if he’d tell the Yankees if he wanted to stay with the club. “If the team wants to trade me they have the last say. If I get traded I’ve just got to keep playing.”
The 28-year-old reiterated that he’d be very interested in re-signing with the Yankees this winter regardless of what happens before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
“Oh yeah,” Chapman said. “If there’s a possibility and God willing, yes.” The Yankees (50-48) finished their home stand at 6-4, playing some of their best ball of the season and making it tougher to deal their closer.
Nate Eovaldi threw 6.2 innings of tworun ball, and Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira homered off Jeff Samardzija.
The Yankees bought low on Chapman in the winter by trading four minor-leaguers to Cincinnati amid uncertainty about Chapman’s possible punishment under MLB’s domesticviolence policy. The pitcher’s girlfriend alleged he “choked” her, and a police report said Chapman also fired a gun in a garage. Charges weren’t filed against Chapman, who was suspended 30 games by MLB under the policy and ultimately served 29 because of a postponed game.
Chapman has 20 saves, a 2.01 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 31.1 innings across 31 appearances this season, all while wowing Yankee Stadium crowds with a fastball that has reached 105 miles-per-hour.
“I feel comfortable here,” Chapman said. “I feel like part of the family here. Being traded halfway into the season, it’s not as comfortable as starting there. But yeah, it’s tough.” Brett Gardner, who hopes Chapman remains in pinstripes, took a playful shot at reporters for all the Chapman talk in recent weeks.
“I think most of you guys would be excited if he gets traded. Everybody’s been talking about it for a few weeks,” Gardner said. “I’m a huge Chapman fan. I’ve been a Chapman fan since Day 1 when he got over here. He’s been very professional and I hope that not only is he here the rest of this year but for the next however many years, as long as I’m here. He’s a great competitor, he works hard and we love handing the ball to him at the end of the game. So as long as he’s on the same team as me, I don’t have to face him.”
Teixeira also hopes Chapman doesn’t get traded.
“We don’t want to see him go,” the first baseman said. “We’re trying to win games, and he’s a big part of that. We want him here.”
Joe Girardi maintained that his focus is on managing to win games and not what the front office may or may not do.
“Obviously you’re gonna hear a lot of things probably over the next week, and a lot of it still depends on how we do,” Girardi said of the Chapman reports. “What we’ve told the players is you’ve got to block the noise out because there’s gonna be discussions throughout and there’s gonna be speculation throughout. That’s part of my job is helping them block the noise out and focus on the games.”