Chapman to Cubs

[Vanimal46]

Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for SS Gleybar Torres. Your thoughts?

[Mike Sixel]

No idea....but the "experts" think it is a high price. The Cubs have lost 1 game (I think) they have led after inning 6 or 7.....

 

So, ya, the team is "better", and they added real talent.

 

I'd probably do it. They are young, and are great, and have a chance to win it all. If now is not the time to do a deal like this, it will never be time.

 

That said, I would not root for Chapman if he was a Twin....

[jimmer]

 

Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for SS Gleybar Torres. Your thoughts?

Cubs have depth when it comes to middle IFs and they are young. I'd have no problem with this if I was a Cubs fan.

[jimmer]

 

No idea....but the "experts" think it is a high price. The Cubs have lost 1 game (I think) they have led after inning 6 or 7.....

 

So, ya, the team is "better", and they added real talent.

 

I'd probably do it. They are young, and are great, and have a chance to win it all. If now is not the time to do a deal like this, it will never be time.

 

That said, I would not root for Chapman if he was a Twin....

I was looking at Rondon's stats earlier today.  He's blown 4 saves and they won two of those games.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I was looking at Rondon's stats earlier today.  He's blown 4 saves and they won two of those games.

 

good point.....i just saw a tweet and ran with it. Kind of lazy on my part, but I am sort of working

[Bob Sacamento]

It wasn't that big of a haul, the important part is that the Cubs get to keep Baez/Schwarber/Soler and they don't shoot themselves in the foot for the future.  At 19yo Torres is a great prospect, has all the tools to stay at SS but the Cubs do have the luxury of having the 22yo Russell and 23yo Baez up the middle for years to come.  

 

The stat lines on Chapman are re-donk-alious:

 

Aroldis Chapman has thrown 1658 pitches 100 MPH+ since 2010. 

All other left handed pitchers combined have thrown 12.

 

Aroldis Chapman has struck out 42.4% of batters faced during his career. Highest rate all-time among pitchers with 300 plus innings.

Aroldis Chapman, it's worth noting that #STLCards haven't scored off Chapman since 2011. (25 games)

[jimmer]

 

good point.....i just saw a tweet and ran with it. Kind of lazy on my part, but I am sort of working

and that's just the closer's line, haven't looked at the set-up guys

[dxpavelka]

Get back to me in 3-5 years.

[jimmer]

 

good point.....i just saw a tweet and ran with it. Kind of lazy on my part, but I am sort of working

If the Cubs want, they could probably re-sign him too.

[nicksaviking]

 

No idea....but the "experts" think it is a high price. The Cubs have lost 1 game (I think) they have led after inning 6 or 7.....

 

So, ya, the team is "better", and they added real talent.

 

I'd probably do it. They are young, and are great, and have a chance to win it all. If now is not the time to do a deal like this, it will never be time.

 

That said, I would not root for Chapman if he was a Twin....

 

Yeah, their pen seemed really good as it was, this almost seemed like making a trade just to make a trade. It can't hurt this year I guess if they want an insurance policy. The Cubs don't really have many holes, Heyward is terrible but his contract is probably going to be hard to move to the bench this year anyway.

 

How close would have the package they used to get Chapman have been to getting Lucroy? Because if they wanted to make improvements, I'd think that would have been the spot to target, Montero has been awful and David Ross is David Ross. And really old.

 

Also, the only pitcher other than their main five guys to get a start for them this year is Adam Warren whom they just traded. I'd guess if they lose a starter they'd probably first have to turn to Clayton Richard or Travis Wood. If an insurance policy is what they wanted, getting another starter might have also been a better move.

 

Not that there isn't plenty of time left in the trade deadline (Ervin Santana cough, cough).

 

 

[jimmer]

Most supposed experts said the one place the Cubs needed help was LH RP.  Most thought they'd go after Miller (and they probably did), but they got Montgomery and now Chapman.

[jimmer]

The Cubs promoted the #1 catching prospect in baseball (Contreras).  Not sure they are looking for catcher,

[gunnarthor]

Looks like more than just the short stop - http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/yankees-trade-aroldis-chapman-cubs.html

 

The Yankees get two top 75 prospects - Torres and Billy McKinney - and a nothing relief pitcher in Warren.  That's a pretty high price for a proven closer who beats up women and is a free agent at the end of the year.  

 

Edit: Heyman is also reporting that one more player is going to the Yankees as well.

[old nurse]

For sending a bunch of no name prospects to the Reds New York has turned it into 2 top 100 prospects and the player they traded to get Castro. Cashman did well

[alarp33]

 

good point.....i just saw a tweet and ran with it. Kind of lazy on my part, but I am sort of working

 

I think you're both right.  I saw the same stat Mike did.  It was something along the lines of "The Cubs have only lost 1 game they led after 7 innings.  In one of the two losses where Rondon blew a save, they weren't technically leading after the 7th or 8th, they took the lead in the 9th, blew save, then lost in extras. 

[lukeduke1980]

I think it's partially a contingency for when someone Bartman's a foul ball and they need a couple strikeouts to get out of an inning.  Hard to blame them...

[markos]

 

No idea....but the "experts" think it is a high price. The Cubs have lost 1 game (I think) they have led after inning 6 or 7.....

 

So, ya, the team is "better", and they added real talent.

 

I'd probably do it. They are young, and are great, and have a chance to win it all. If now is not the time to do a deal like this, it will never be time.

 

That said, I would not root for Chapman if he was a Twin....

There seems to be a real disconnect between how the public "experts" are valuing elite relievers (and prospects) versus how much teams are actually willing to pay. Even smart, analytical organizations like Houston and Chicago are paying a lot for relievers, and guys like Joe Sheehan, Dan Szymborski, Dave Cameron, et al. are basically shaking their heads. I'm not sure what to make of that disconnect.

[Thrylos]

I am listening to the WFAN 660, the NYC sports station and it sounds like a huge possibility that the Yankees will do with Chapman what the Twins did with Aguilera after trading him to Boston, and try to bring him back as a free agent this off-season.

 

Much better return for the Yankees than the equivalent of Frankie Rodriguez and JJ Johnson.  A total no-brainer for the Yankees.   And if the Cubs win, it it not like they gave anyone up who is not blocked in the majors by young players who can be with them for another decade...

[Mike Sixel]

 

There seems to be a real disconnect between how the public "experts" are valuing elite relievers (and prospects) versus how much teams are actually willing to pay. Even smart, analytical organizations like Houston and Chicago are paying a lot for relievers, and guys like Joe Sheehan, Dan Szymborski, Dave Cameron, et al. are basically shaking their heads. I'm not sure what to make of that disconnect.

 

I bet Cameron comes out on the Cubs' side on this one.....

[Winston Smith]

What is Terry Ryan working for the Cubs now?

[Mike Sixel]

 

What is Terry Ryan working for the Cubs now?

 

?

 

He has never, ever, done something like that.

[savvyspy]

This trade sheds the light on what real GMs can get accomplished. Theo probably has the best back end of the bullpen with Rondon and Chapman now and the Cubs are odds on favorites to win the NL if not the WS.

 

Cashman did exactly what a GM on a non playoff team is supposed to do, restock talent with the best prospects you can get. He receive an elite one in this deal.

 

Both sides win.

 

Meanwhile, Antony is dusting off the "We aren't going to make trades just to make trades" playbook he found in Ryan's desk drawer.

[bluechipper]

 

For sending a bunch of no name prospects to the Reds New York has turned it into 2 top 100 prospects and the player they traded to get Castro. Cashman did well

I'm guessing Billy McKinney falls off most lists this offseason. He's hitting .252 with 1 HR and 2 stolen bases in 88 games at AA this year. He's still only 21 though and is coming off a strong season. 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I'm guessing Billy McKinney falls off most lists this offseason. He's hitting .252 with 1 HR and 2 stolen bases in 88 games at AA this year. He's still only 21 though and is coming off a strong season. 

Yeah McKinney has a good eye, and has average to plus tools all around.  Still doesn't hurt the Cubs to deal him, they have a few other OFs ahead of him (Schwarber, Soler, Bryant/Baez) plus a few others that are climbings (Eloy Jiminez, etc).  If anyone forgot, McKinney was the other prospect the Cubs got in return for Samardzija, Addison Russell being the centerpiece.

[bluechipper]

 

If anyone forgot, McKinney was the other prospect the Cubs got in return for Samardzija, Addison Russell being the centerpiece.

Someone should write a book about the brilliance of Billy Beane.

[Bob Sacamento]

The biggest question down the stretch for the Cubs has been who comes in with the game on the line and faces the other teams best lefty bat.  IE:  Nationals: Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy.  This now becomes a no-brainer for Maddon, no more throwing Clayton Richards or Travis Wood in the role.

[old nurse]

 

I am listening to the WFAN 660, the NYC sports station and it sounds like a huge possibility that the Yankees will do with Chapman what the Twins did with Aguilera after trading him to Boston, and try to bring him back as a free agent this off-season.

 

Much better return for the Yankees than the equivalent of Frankie Rodriguez and JJ Johnson.  A total no-brainer for the Yankees.   And if the Cubs win, it it not like they gave anyone up who is not blocked in the majors by young players who can be with them for another decade...

Aggie was not quite Chapman. ERA+ in the 150-180 or so range where Chapman is well over 200  

The second trade of Aggie netted them Lohse. Of course that was later wasted

[Winston Smith]

 

?

 

He has never, ever, done something like that.

Kind of my point, 180 degrees from what Terry ever did when he had the chance.

[tobi0040]

It is pretty hard to knock this. Where this city has been and where they are now. They won 66 and 73 games in 2013 and 2014. He took that job to win the world series and could go down as the guy that broke the curses in both Boston and Chicago. He has had an immense amount of support from the owners and that has helped a great deal.

 

But where they are now, I can see how this deal makes sense for them. I would not be shocked if they extended him this season too.

 

Addison Russell has an OPS of .752, playing SS and he is 22. So they have that position covered.

[jimmer]

 

It is pretty hard to knock this. Where this city has been and where they are now. They won 66 and 73 games in 2013 and 2014. He took that job to win the world series and could go down as the guy that broke the curses in both Boston and Chicago. He has had an immense amount of support from the owners and that has helped a great deal.

But where they are now, I can see how this deal makes sense for them. I would not be shocked if they extended him this season too.

Addison Russell has an OPS of .752, playing SS and he is 22. So they have that position covered.

And Baez can slip in there if Addison is hurt.