I’ve assumed for some time now that the Cubs weren’t really all that interested in Aroldis Chapman. I had assumed their real and only interest was Andrew Miller, but according to Ken Davidoff, the Yankees have asked for best and final bids from four teams. Those four teams are the Nationals, Cubs, Indians and, you know it, a mystery team.
They’re advancing on a different front. An industry source told The Post that the Yankees had asked serious Chapman suitors — a list believed to include the Nationals, the Cubs and the Indians, as well as a mystery team — for their best and final offers. While that doesn’t clinch a trade of Chapman, the impending free agent, it makes such a transaction darn likely. The Yankees intend to hold onto Miller, who is signed through 2018.
Davidoff suggests the Yankees will not be moving Andrew Miller now who I actually thought was no longer a target after the Cubs acquired Mike Montgomery. But I do have to admit that acquiring Chapman intrigues me. A 7th, 8th and 9th inning of Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman is awfully good. It would give the Cubs the shutdown bullpen that teams try for when they’re serious about the playoffs.
Add in Carl Edwards, Jr., Mike Montgomery and I’m still hoping Justin Grimm can return to form. All of a sudden the Cubs would have a very good bullpen. It wouldn’t come cheap, but probably cheaper than it would cost to get Andrew Miller.
The Yankees gave up quantity to get Chapman, but not a lot of quality. They did give up a couple of prospects ranked in the lower half of the top 10 (#6 and #10) and then two prospects ranked outside the team’s top 30. More than half a season later and Chapman is closer to free agency. There’s also no possibility of getting a draft pick if Chapman signs with another team for next season.
I’d have to give it some more thought, but Billy McKinney and Jeimer Candelario are ranked by Baseball America in similar spots in the top 10. Eloy Jimenez has made a huge step forward and is now easily in the Cubs top 5 and probably off the table for Chapman. What do you guys think it would take to acquire Chapman?
Comments
(dying laughing) at that picture of Chapman. He looks like he’s trying to Force-choke someone.
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m guessing Chapman will cost more than he’s worth. Teams can get a little panicky with relievers.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Maybe Zagunis and Candelario? Would that be enough, or would the Yankees want one more throw in, like a low A lottery arm?
EdwinQuote Reply
Hopefully not his wife.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin,
Yeah, I figured some low level prospects would be included too. Zagunis is a good idea though I’m thinking we’re probably higher on him than a lot of people. I’d be ok with including Almora, but I’m not high on him.
dmick89Quote Reply
who does joe nathan replace? adam warren?
related question: does adam warren suck?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Clayton Richard, I’d assume. I don’t even know why he’s still on the team. Trevor Cahill probably replaces either Grimm or Warren when Cahill is finished with his rehab.
dmick89Quote Reply
I guess the Cubs optioned Adam Warren.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Yeah clayton kershaw Richard is the obvious choice but I just didn’t even consider that he would be optioned because of the insane amount of blackmail material that he obviously has on the FO. It’s either that or witchcraft.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Truth
berseliusQuote Reply
I wish there was a video of Sale cutting those uniforms up. What were his teammates doing? Did he get caught in the middle of cutting them up? Did he just admit to doing it? There are lots of questions.
Ventura: Who the fuck did this shit?
Sale: That was me, coach.
dmick89Quote Reply
Bruce Levine
5m
Bruce Levine @MLBBruceLevine
MLB source- the Cleveland Indians have the best names on the table for Aroldis Chapman. Deal could be close Washington also very aggressive
dmick89Quote Reply
He reportedly did it when his teammates were doing batting practice.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Ugh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That sucked.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That was predictable.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hey, Shelby Miller is available!
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
They could probably get him for less than the Diamonbacks did.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
berselius,
I’d rather have Adam Warren. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
??????????????????
berseliusQuote Reply
Lester’s throwing issues cost the team a run allowed.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s just pathetic.
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m amazed more baserunners don’t do that against Lester, honestly.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Stolen bases against Jon Lester should be considered defensive indifference.
dmick89Quote Reply
(dying laughing) Lester actually throws and they still fuck it up.
dmick89Quote Reply
This series sucks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Cubs lose.
dmick89Quote Reply
Lester playoff starts are going to be frustrating.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Weekends like this are why I don’t consider a 6.5 game lead safe at this point of the season.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It can’t be that hard to fix his throws to 1st.
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
A 6.5 game lead probably isn’t safe if the Cubs play .500 ball like they have over the last 60 games or so.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cubs hitters aren’t exactly challenging the ump to show the same zone as Lester has gotten today. What a waste of time.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Here we go again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Jesus.
uncle daveQuote Reply
The hardest hit ball so far has been, what, a sac fly?
uncle daveQuote Reply
What the fuck. This battery sucks.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
w. t. f.
EdwinQuote Reply
Lester couldn’t pitch in the 80s. He’d give up 12 stolen bases a game. The Cardinals would steal 30 in a single game against him.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
Also, no David Ross to have as his personal catcher.
EdwinQuote Reply
Analysis: Rizzo should stop hitting the ball on the ground.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The guy who pitched in the Italian league is gonna one hit the “27 Yankees”
SKQuote Reply
dpleeted
SKQuote Reply
Damn you, replay.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
A good throw and Zobrist is out by a fucking mile. He was out with the bad throw.
dmick89Quote Reply
So many wasted walks.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
TOOTBLAN
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
So many walks and a decent pitch count for Guerra.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is where Heyward grounds into two.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
He tried
SKQuote Reply
dmick89,
I don’t really care about that. Lower pitch count = more times through the order.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
It feels like the Brewers have gotten about ten more outs than the Cubs in this one.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Uh oh.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This game keeps finding new ways to suck.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
I wasn’t talking about how deep he could go. I was just pointing out how quickly the non-walk plate appearances have been.
dmick89Quote Reply
This is fine dot gif
berseliusQuote Reply
I’m this close to asking for my money back for this game.
SKQuote Reply
uncle dave,
Make it eleven.
uncle daveQuote Reply
Left heel bruise for Russell
berseliusQuote Reply
If this is the only game I saw all year, I would think this team was 10 games under .500
JonKneeVQuote Reply
This is easily the least enjoyable good season the Cubs have had in my life.
dmick89Quote Reply
Welp. Looks like ClayDick is gonna get a chance to break this game wide open.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I’m shocked
dmick89Quote Reply
Ron: “Clayton might have gotten away with one there. ”
No, Ron. That’s literally the only way he can get an out.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
This bullshit is never going to end.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I’d like to see Theo in the 3 down for the recap tomorrow
JonKneeVQuote Reply
I think I saw somewhere that the Cubs haven’t come back from a deficit of 2 runs or more in like the last 50 games, so there’s that.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I believe it. The game always feel over when they’re in a hole.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
SK,
Last year they never seemed out of it. They could be down 5 runs and it still felt like a game they could win. Not so this year. They get down and they’re done. They may as well just go home and save themselves from any chance of injury.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well, it worked out this time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Breaking: Tim Lincecum might be terrible.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
At least Heyward can’t ground into two.
dmick89Quote Reply
Pat Hughes needs to stop getting excited at those deep fly outs. He nearly gave me a heart attack there.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I can’t recall a less enjoyable Cubs season than this, and we’re still 6 games up. It kinda sucks.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I can’t wait until next year when the Cubs won’t roster a personal catcher and Clayton Richard.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
uncle dave,
Early 2009 is the closest I can come up with.
dmick89Quote Reply
Joe Nathan’s debut is not going well.
dmick89Quote Reply
Well, that was something.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
dmick89,
Looked pretty good actually.
dmick89Quote Reply
This year is more enjoyable than 2009, but less enjoyable than 2004.
Both of these comparisons could change, though.
SKQuote Reply
This game is trying to get my hopes up. Won’t fool me this time. I’m not running to kick that football again.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
La Stella!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
(dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
lack of punctuation noted
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I fixed it. I initially put Szczur. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
La Stella is now: .294 /.385/.461
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
SK,
you added the punctuation after the fact (dying laughing)
SKQuote Reply
Rizzo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I just Rizzed a little
berseliusQuote Reply
You win, game. I’ve got my hopes up. Don’t yank the football away from me this time.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
RIZZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dmick89Quote Reply
Well that was more fun than 2004
SKQuote Reply
Best season ever
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
(dying laughing)
uncle daveQuote Reply
Zobrist!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Zobrist finally starts getting hits, and he promptly removes himself from the bases.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Crap.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Whew.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I wasn’t worried.
dmick89Quote Reply
Ceramic Dildo pitching, down four. Abandon hope.
Up two. (dying laughing)
You guys do not disappoint.
ceruleanQuote Reply
Good Strop!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s three caught steeling for the Cubs. Maybe don’t run against Lucroy?
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I’ve never understood why runners test the arms of good catchers so often.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
I guess Lucroy’s CS% was a lot lower before this year, so maybe he’s not as good as I thought.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
That’s six outs they’ve made at second base today? If they don’t lose this one, nobody can say they didn’t try…
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave,
This has not been a well-played game by either team.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nothing like a 4+ hour 9 inning game.
dmick89Quote Reply
That was annoying.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Hitters the Cubs pitchers can’t figure out:
Nick Markakis
Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Billy Hamilton
Rene Rivera
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
In humid 90 degree heat. What a way to spend an afternoon!
EdwinQuote Reply
Gleyber Torres scratched from his game. No hugs yet, but I bet a trade is nearing completion.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Unless we are getting Miller or someone not publicly known on the block, I already dont like it. Even if its Miller, Im not thrilled.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Apparently its torres+ for chapman, with chapman getting extended.
Excuse while I vomit into the nearest garbage can.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Rosenthal said Schwarber and Torres, but I haven’t seen that anywhere else. That would fucking suck.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Torres plus for Chapman and you extend Chapman? I’d rather it just be Torres plus for Chapman and no extension because any extension is probably going to suck.
dmick89Quote Reply
If the Cubs give up Schwarber and Torres for Chapman, I fucking quit.
dmick89Quote Reply
I can’t write anything about this for awhile so if something goes down, this will have to do unless someone else gets to it before I have a chance.
dmick89Quote Reply
Hector Rondon probably won’t be very happy about this.
dmick89Quote Reply
Everything else I’m seeing has Torres as the centerpiece, for what it’s worth.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Probably not, but here’s a thought: if the Cubs are looking to extend Chapman, what are the odds they see him as a starter after this season?
PerkinsQuote Reply
You mean this? https://twitter.com/kyle24lamb/status/757362598782312448
That’s a fake account. His real account is here: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Awesome. This is what I get for not actually being on Twitter. (dying laughing)
PerkinsQuote Reply
Wow, the Cardinals are already down by six runs. Mayers’ debut has been horrendous.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Supposedly a 4 year, $60 million extension on the table for Chapman from the Cubs.
dmick89Quote Reply
Turn him into a SP next year, might not be so bad.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
9-1 Dodgers. Wow. I feel bad for all Mayers’ family members who came to see his debut.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This Cardinals/Dodgers game is a beatdown I recently enjoyed.
PerkinsQuote Reply
This is the deal the Cubs decide to overpay on? Fuck.
EdwinQuote Reply
Jeff Passan
Twitter › JeffPassan
Sources: Aroldis Chapman to Cubs looking likelier. Multiple pieces from Cubs, including Gleyber Torres, are agreed upon. Still not done
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
I get the feeling that multiple players will be moving each direction. The Yankees have some interesting but risky MiL arms. Such seems to have been Theo’s MO, though it’s extraordinarily presumptuous to assume others do not or cannot change.
ceruleanQuote Reply
cerulean,
I’m hearing the Cubs are only getting Chapman: https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status/757385225596833793
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Yeah. I wouldn’t be shocked, but I wouldn’t bet on it either.
ceruleanQuote Reply
It’s a lot to give up and Chapman undoubtedly improves their playoff odds, but I’m not sure it’s worth it even if it’s just Torres. Chapman is a piece of shit, but I don’t oppose the trade because of that. It certainly makes it harder to get behind the trade, but I don’t expect the Cubs to be a team of angels.
dmick89Quote Reply
The price seems steep to me, too. He’s only going to get about 25 regular season innings. Though, to be honest, I’m also excited about how good the back of the bullpen is going to look assuming this trade goes through.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/MibeltRodriguez/status/757410504478433280?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
dmick89Quote Reply
Rizzo the Rat,
Same here. Strop, Rondon and Chapman is as good as it gets. I’m excited to see that, too, but Torres is a lot to pay.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89,
That sounds about right.
ceruleanQuote Reply
I’m pretty relieved the Cubs won’t be trading Kyle Schwarber.
dmick89Quote Reply
Cardinals lose.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
The thing that sucks about trading Torres is not being able to use him in trade for a starter this offseason.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Fans love giving players 2nd chances on things, so it makes sense that Cubs fans would embrace Chapman, just like they gave Sosa a second chance for the steroids.
EdwinQuote Reply
Turn. That. Shit. Green.
MylesQuote Reply
Can anyone link me to a neat summary of Chapman’s shit? I recall the initial incident and reporting on that, and I know he escaped criminal charges but still was suspended by MLB, but that’s all I know. From the comments I am seeing, I take it he hasn’t owned up to what he did?
SKQuote Reply
I’ve been reading that a deal is very close and that it’s Torres and more for Chapman. Isn’t that a lot? I would think that a team’s #1 prospect/Top 25 MLB prospect alone should be enough to get a RP who’ll be a free agent after this year. I really like the thought of Chapman closing games for the Cubs but at that price? I don’t know how I feel about that. I know there ere rumors of an extension holding the deal up but why would Chapman sign an extension at this point? I feel like Torres and a package of players can get more return than a RP. I liked it better when the Cubs were on the other end of these types of trades. (dying laughing)
MuckerQuote Reply
I will honestly like the Cubs a little less if this trade goes through. Maybe a lot less.
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
Sources: Cubs in talks to sign Milton Bradley to minor-league deal
Myles HandleyQuote Reply
I take it that GMs don’t consider Chapman just “a RP”.
SKQuote Reply
I just hope when Theo or Tom or whoever addresses the fans in regards to the domestic violence issue, that they do more than the token address the issue/defend the player 100% stuff that almost every team does. I’m tired of the Blackhawks/Bears approach to these things.
EdwinQuote Reply
Cubs trading Torres, Castro, and two others for 2 months of Chapman.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
It definitely hurts my enjoyment. I really hope there’s no extention, because I don’t think I can take 3-4 more seasons of the guy.
EdwinQuote Reply
(dying laughing) at Warren probably going back to NYY
SKQuote Reply
Myles Handley,
That’s funny. You’re funny.
JoshQuote Reply
THe one thing I’ll say about Chapman from a pure player perspective, isn’t a shutdown closer the one statistically most important thing about going deep in the post season?
JoshQuote Reply
There’s also this to consider:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcFd5D6iRT0
I’m sure he’s not going to instantly be a clubhouse favorite.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Al so funny
SKQuote Reply
SK,
It could go either way.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Al’s insight about when this deal will be consummated is impressive enough on its own; his checking for new information really proves the incredible value of BCB.
SKQuote Reply
SK,
I’m just confused on why Al thinks Theo and Cashman have to have sex for the deal to go through.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
Even after the suspension he was adamant he did nothing wrong.
dmick89Quote Reply
If Chapman is even half the monster everyone seems to think he is, then yeah, agreed.
I’m just not so sure. Don’t feel I have enough info about any of it to feel comfortable making a definitive judgment about what happened and especially the ultimate character of Chapman. Maybe that’s me being conveniently evasive because he throws 105, and maybe with something like a domestic incident, the right call is to err on the side of assuming the worst of both the man and what happened. But there’s a non-small part of me that feels very uneasy doing such a thing, and honestly, I’m a bit confused (and disconcerted) by those who do speak with such certainty about Chapman. Applied to other issues less emotionally charged and there’s probably a lot more circumspection and brake-tapping going on.
But again, maybe the best way to go about it because the issue is so very, very important, is to assume Chapman is a horrible person.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
Isn’t that how trades are made?
SKQuote Reply
JonKneeV,
I doubt that will have any impact.
dmick89Quote Reply
I have no problem applying a little bit of common sense to this and jumping to the conclusion that he did most likely choke his girlfriend. I have no problem then leaping the conclusion that he’s basically a piece of shit and I’d have no problem doing the same for other crimes, especially ones in which a privileged class gets away with the action most of the time.
That said, I have no problem with the trade on those grounds. It makes more difficult to like, but in a good trade, I’d be perfectly fine with the Cubs acquiring Chapman. He’s available to play MLB and I’d rather he play for the Cubs than not. I haven’t cared about off field stuff when it comes to who should or should not be on the team for as long as I can remember and I’m not going to start now.
If that makes me part of the problem, which I’m sure some will say it does, then I feel bad about that, but I’m OK with it. I’m pretty sure complaining about this trade or complaining about Chapman isn’t part of the solution. This issues sucks and it’s too bad it’s going to be the focus of much writing over the next few months.
dmick89Quote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/cubs-close-to-trade-for-aroldis-chapman/
dmick89Quote Reply