Yankee Addicts

Aroldis Chapman Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation on Yankees Pitcher

July 16, 2016 · Adam Wells · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

With the New York Yankees (48-47) continuing to fall in the playoff standings, Aroldis Chapman’s impending free agency makes him an attractive trade chip.

Continue for updates.

Nationals Interested in Chapman

Friday, July 22

Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reported the Washington Nationals are interested in Chapman, but are not willing to get rid of top prospects Lucas Giolito, Victor Robles, Trea Turner or Reynaldo Lopez.

Svrluga reported on July 18 that the Yankees were scouting Washington’s Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.

The New York Post‘s George A. King III reported earlier that day that the Nationals had scouted Chapman.

Cubs Reportedly Balk at Chapman Price

Thursday, July 21

Citing a source, Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score reported that the Chicago Cubs “are not willing to pay” what the Yankees want for Chapman or Andrew Miller. DiCaro added that Kyle Schwarber’s name has come up in talks.

Yankees Pushing Ahead with Exploring Chapman Market

Tuesday, July 19

Buster Olney of ESPN, citing rival executives, reported the Yankees are going “full bore in shaping possible deals” for Chapman. Olney added that the Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and “others” are in the hunt for the reliever.

Yankees’ Struggles Open Door for Chapman Deal

Saturday, July 16

Per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Yankees “will trade” Chapman “if things don’t turn” around before the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

After being suspended for the first 30 games of this season for violating MLB‘s domestic-violence policy, Chapman returned looking like the dominant closer he’s been throughout his big league career.

In 28 games, he’s recorded 18 saves with 40 strikeouts, seven walks and 18 hits allowed in 27.1 innings.

Entering play July 16, the Yankees are 8.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East and 5.5 games out of the second wild-card spot with six teams ahead of them.

This is the year when all of those big contracts the Yankees handed out years ago backfire on them. Mark Teixeira has struggled to stay healthy, Alex Rodriguez has largely been relegated to bench duty lately with a .260 on-base percentage, and Brett Gardner isn’t hitting for power or stealing bases like he once did.

CC Sabathia has been effective in the starting rotation, but he and Masahiro Tanaka are the only regular starters with an ERA under 5.11.

Chapman makes sense as a trade chip because he’ll be a free agent and will command a huge salary in the offseason. But his potential value doesn’t seem to be high because an interested team would only get him for two months and a potential playoff run.

Some contending teams do need relief help, but there’s a ceiling to what they should pay for someone who is likely to throw 30 innings the rest of this season.

But the Yankees are a smart organization capable of maximizing a return on investment, so their scouting staff will examine any potential prospects the team can get in a deal to make a trade worth their time.

Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com