Sources: Cubs closing on deal with Yankees for Aroldis Chapman

ByJesse Rogers ESPN logo
Monday, July 25, 2016

CHICAGO - A deal sending New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for Class-A shortstop Gleyber Torres is close to completion, according to multiple sources familiar with the trade.

Chapman, 28, would fill an immediate need in the Cubs bullpen as they lack a true left handed late inning reliever with his kind of experience. He's 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 20 saves for the Yankees after serving a 30-game suspension under MLB's domestic violence policy earlier this season.

He has 166 career saves over a 7-year career, most of it with the Cincinnati Reds.

Torres, 19, would be the centerpiece going back to the Yankees as he's the Cubs top ranked prospect and 15th in baseball, according to ESPN.com's prospect expert Keith Law. Torres was scratched about 20 minutes before first pitch on Sunday afternoon but was seen in the dugout throughout the game while the trade, which involves other players, was still being worked on.

The Cubs traded for lefty Mike Montgomery from the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday though he gave up a home run to the first batter he faced with his new team on Saturday night.

They also added six-time All-Star Joe Nathan to the roster on Sunday as he earned his first win since Sept, 2014 by striking out the side in the sixth inning of the Cubs 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Brewers.

It's not clear when the deal for Chapman - if it's completed - will be announced. He's set to become a free agent after this season.