The New York Yankees are bringing on the radioactive arm—and radioactive presence—of closer Aroldis Chapman. Just how radioactive has Chapman become in the wake of his unhinged domestic violence allegations? Take a look at the haul of chumps the Cincinnati Reds will be getting in return:
So the Yankees gave up RHPs Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis and INFs Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda. It seems the price did drop on Chapman.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) December 28, 2015
Two "top 15" prospects and some other dudes. For Aroldis Chapman. Click on that link and you will begin to understand how the Reds managed to get anything for a guy who stands accused of choking his girlfriend, punching through his car window, and firing a gun eight times while she hid in the bushes.Another ancillary benefit to Chapman's domestic violence (for the Yankees, that is) is a service time/free agency issue. If Major League Baseball suspends him for more than 46 days—50 games would be the more likely number in that case—he would not become a free agent until after the 2017 season rather than 2016 as he was previously on track to.A suspension of 46 games or higher would mean Chapman falls just shy of accruing the CBA-defined six full seasons of service time necessary to become a free agent. So, if that happens, not only would the Yankees be getting a bona fide hurler for nothing, they'd essentially be getting him for an extra year. Given they already have Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances in the bullpen, they can do without Chapman for 50 games next season. They could probably do without him entirely, too.Davis & Jagielo in #Yankees top 15, others not even in NYY top 30 in upcoming Prospect Handbook https://t.co/wIkTUwt7tR
— John Manuel (@johnmanuelba) December 28, 2015