The 34-34 Yankees remain in the thick of the playoff race in the American League, where they sit 5.5 games back of the AL East-leading Orioles and 3.5 games out of a Wild Card position. If the Yankees fall off prior to the Aug. 1 trade deadline and decide to shop elite relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, they’ll garner interest from the Cubs, Nationals, Giants, Dodgers and Rangers, among other potential suitors, reports FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal (video link).
New York could trade both and find a complement to Dellin Betances through free agency, according to Rosenthal, who notes that Chapman, the Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen and the Pirates’ Mark Melancon – a former Yankee – are all on expiring contracts. Of those three, the only one who’s likely to cost a first-round pick to sign is Jansen, who’s a good bet to receive a qualifying offer (worth roughly $16MM) from Los Angeles.
Miller’s connection to the Cubs, Nationals and Giants is nothing new, of course, with the same holding true for Chapman in regards to Chicago and Washington. The Cubs scouted Yankees relievers last week, and multiple reports this month have linked the Nationals to Chapman and Miller. The Giants, meanwhile, were reportedly mulling going after Miller as of two weeks ago. The Dodgers nearly acquired Chapman from the Reds over the winter, but they moved on amid the 28-year-old’s domestic violence issues and pondered pursuing Miller, whom the Yankees ultimately retained.
The Dodgers already rank an outstanding fourth in bullpen ERA (3.12) and ninth in K/BB (2.88), though adding Chapman or Miller to the likes of Jansen, Joe Blanton and Adam Liberatore would improve their odds of catching the NL West-leading Giants, whom they’re 6.5 games behind, or at least keeping pace in the Wild Card hunt.
Despite San Francisco’s success, its bullpen has been mediocre on the whole and lacks anyone in the stratosphere of Chapman or Miller. It helps that either of those two would bring variety to a unit whose best options – Santiago Casilla, Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin and Derek Law – are all right-handed.
The Cubs, who lead the majors with a 46-20 record, are all but devoid of weaknesses. They lack a top-end lefty reliever to complement shutdown righties Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon, however, which is why they’re interested in the Yankees’ tandem. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein acknowledged Friday that relievers are on the team’s radar, saying he “would love” to pick up another quality bullpen arm.
Nationals relievers are eighth in the league in both ERA (3.38) and K/BB ratio (2.9), which has helped the team gain a six-game advantage in the NL East, but closer Jonathan Papelbon is on the disabled list with a right intercostal strain and was merely good before succumbing to injury. There’s also risk with fill-in closer Shawn Kelley – while he has fared brilliantly this season, the 32-year-old is a two-time Tommy John surgery recipient.
Although they’re atop the AL with a 44-25 mark, Rangers relievers are just 25th in ERA (4.84) and a below-average 19th in K/BB (2.38). Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman and Matt Bush are all thriving, but team president and GM Jon Daniels said Saturday that the Rangers would consider looking for outside bullpen help.
Acquiring either Chapman or Miller would clearly be a boon to any of these World Series-contending clubs, though the latter of the two figures to command a heftier return. Not only is Miller locked up through 2018 at a reasonable $9MM salary, but he doesn’t bring any of Chapman’s off-the-field baggage and has been the better of the tandem this season. If shopped, both should require notable young talent coming back, and it’s worth pointing out that ESPN’s Keith Law (Insider required) placed the Dodgers second, the Cubs fourth, the Rangers ninth, the Nationals 15th and the Giants 21st in his preseason farm system rankings.
jljr222
I think it says a lot about the Yankees season when I’m more excited about what they could get for Miller or Chapman than the performance of the actual team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them hold onto Miller and move Chapman while claiming to still be in the hunt. Depends on the return for Chapman and if that return could go right into the MLB roster for immediate help.
Mikel Grady
I feel your pain. As a cub fan I did the same thing . Who can we get for garza Dempster and shark
cruiser2948
why not just swap rondon and chapman?
cubsfan2489
That’d be the dumbest move possible for the Cubs. Let’s trade a dominate closer with years of control for 2 1/2 months of a dominate domestic abuser
jljr222
Doesn’t make much sense for the Yankees, we have no use for Rondon. Other holes to fill that Chapman’s value could fix.
One Fan
Cruiser the answer is that the Cubs would not swap Rondon for Chapman because the Cubs front office is not srupid
billysbballz
Look up Theo the greats free agent signings and trades right before he left the sawx and you let redact that statement plus there’s always that 1908 thing hanging over your head.
dodgers1069
LOL. The whole “Cubs haven’t won since 1908” thing has nothing to do with the CURRENT front office
RunDMC
Welcome to being a Braves fan. The Draft and July 2nd is our World Series.
nadsmasher
There should not be any untouchables on the Yankee roster with the exception of Didi, however not a whole bunch teams would want, with the exception of the big 3 relief tandem. The Yankees need to break down the team and build via the draft, they cannot outspend anymore, many team got bucks.
adyo4552
Didi Gregorious, untouchable? Its official – now I’ve heard everything.
dooley
In reality, the Yankees have been long overdue for a proper rebuild for many years. This is the absolute perfect season to do it – by trading closers (a bad team does not need an elite closer…let alone 3 of them!). I would trade all 3 elite relievers and get as many young prospects as possible. Also, I would deal Beltran too and anyone else over the age of 30 that a contender calls about. The Yankees need to start stockpiling young players similar to what the Cubs and Rangers have done over the years so that when the All-Star free agent class of 2018-19 hits, they have a young star core to compliment them.
redsfan48
“New York could trade both and find a complement to Dellin Betances through free agency, according to Rosenthal, who notes that Chapman, the Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen and the Pirates’ Mark Melancon – a former Yankee – are all on expiring contracts. Of those three, the only one who’s likely to cost a first-round pick to sign is Jansen, who’s a good bet to receive a qualifying offer (worth roughly $16MM) from Los Angeles.”
I don’t think there’s any way in the world that Chapman won’t get a Qualifying Offer in the event that the Yankees don’t trade him.
aff10
In which case it wouldn’t cost the Yankees a first-round pick to sign him, although they would forfeit their right to a compensation pick obviously
redsfan48
Oh, the way I read that was that only Jansen would even get a QO.
Connor J. Byrne
Right, but this is in the event that the Yankees do trade him.
bucsfan
Melancon will be a true test for the Pirates. I think they will try for an extension at his current price, but don’t consider that likely to actually happen. The question then becomes whether they are comfortable offering 16 million to a closer via QO, hoping he declines it. That might a bit too much to pay for the Pirates budget situation, but I’d take the risk.
bucsfan
My ideal scenario is trading Austin Meadows for Andrew Miller to get cost certainty at closer for the next 2 years, but that’s also unlikely, even more so if Cutch continues his decline in production.
dooley
Probably would need more than Meadows to land Miller. Of the two LHP the Yankees have, Miller will probably require the better package since he is cost controlled at a reasonable rate for 2 additional years. Also, the Yankees would probably want a starting pitcher in return as opposed to an OF. Think Taillon or Glasnow.
therealryan
I think the Yankees would be very wise to look into trading Chapman and one of Miller/Betances. There are several teams with deep pockets and farm systems looking for elite BP arms this deadline and the recent market for elite RP have had some big returns. A bidding war between the mentioned teams could really put the Yankees in a position of strength. If the Yankees decide to capitalize on the trade market instead of chasing a middling season, they should be able to get several top prospects in return. This offseason will also have several top bullpen arms available, so they could use some of their spending advantage to bring back Chapman or add Jansen and be right back to having multiple high leverage relievers.
stymeedone
Look at what half season rental relief pitching returned last year. I think your hope for “several top prospects” is a bit of wishful thinking for Chapman. Miller will definitely bring back more than Chapman, but again, nowhere near what a top starter would bring back, and that appears to be the level you are expecting.
therealryan
Last season there weren’t any elite level RP traded at the deadline, so it’s hard to use that as the reference moving forward. Two years ago Miller returned a top 75 prospect in Rodriguez and he wasn’t quite the same level of player as Chapman is now. Also, look at this past offseason and the price for elite and near elite RP was astronomical. Kimbrel, Giles and McGee all had huge returns and the only thing holding Chapman’s value down at the time of his trade was the uncertainty regarding the domestic battery allegations. Those are now resolved and he will command a top 50ish prospect plus another good prospect, probably in the org top 10-12 range. If the Yankees also trade one of Miller/Betances, they would most likely be looking at a total return of 3 top 50 prospects plus other good ones for a pair of relievers. Those are trades I would want them to make if they were my team.
cubbie991
if the cubs pick up either chapman or miller or both, game over in the national league.
davechoate1
The Rangers bullpen ERA of 4.84 is misleading.
Tom Wilhelmsen (10.55 ERA) is no longer with the team and Shawn Tolleson (8.02 ERA) has been relegated to mop up duty.
They have three excellent relievers in Sam Dyson (2.10 ERA), Jake Diekman (1.35 ERA), and Matt Bush (1.15 ERA).
Connor Byrne
“They have three excellent relievers in Sam Dyson (2.10 ERA), Jake Diekman (1.35 ERA), and Matt Bush (1.15 ERA).”
Indeed. I mentioned all of them.
stillhitting10031
Still they bullpen is mediocre rank 29 and let see how these 3 can pitch the whole season to the playoff ..
NYC Fan
They can trade Chapman if they want, but Miller and Betances aren’t going anywhere…
stillhitting10031
Are you cashman?.. if the yankees get a giles type dear they will trade them no matter what A FAN THINK.! .. Nova leave after this year , sabathia next one , eovaldi too , pineda too , tanaka can opt out , you have a great idea sir?
NYC Fan
First let me answer your rethorical question… No, I’m not Cashman. Second, I’m just a fan who wishes they keep both relievers, and i know my opinion means nothing to the Yankees management, but that applies to you too. And finally, you’re “right”, i forgot that the Yankees can’t re-sign their soon to be free agents or other free agents and that they don’t have any pitchers in the minors or that they didn’t drafted any players…
michaelw
NYC fan you not smart nor are the GM of the Yanks. While I know you hate to see them go. The Yanks are not winning the East, and Miller will be gone I say with in a month – Better get over it and use to it. Yanks are rebuilding. I bet my life Miller is gone by trade deadline.. MLB is a business it doesn’t do things just because one fan says so or says not to.
jp08
You are betting your life…… Better hope Miller gets traded or it was nice seeing you around.
eddieguglielmo23
As a yankees fan id like to see the yankees deal chapman and miller to the nats for trae turner and louis
brianf
Not a chance the Nats would do that deal.
eddieguglielmo23
I could dream right? Id rather keep them then sell low on them. The cubs have more then enough guys to get a package together
NYC Fan
His “not a chance” part is just his opinion, not a fact. And in mine, that’s too little return for both Chapman and Miller.
fs54
LOL Are you kidding? A #1 and #9 prospects in all of baseball for two relievers, one of whom we only get for half season? No way Nationals do it and no way Yankees refuse it if Nationals are dumb enough to offer it.
brianf
If you think Giolito and Turner wouldn’t be enough for a half year of Chapman and Miller then you’re really over valuing the guys on your team. If the Nats were to offer that deal NY would jump on it in a heartbeat.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Yanks only had to give up Rookie Davis and Eric Jagielo to get one year Chapman? No way half a year of him gets two top 10 prospects in baseball. Not even if you throw in Miller.
jp08
That was because of the uncertainty over suspension, now that it has been served and is over, he has full value regardless of what the holier-than-thou fans want to believe.
fs54
OK. Keep hoping for the package you are never going to get.
jp08
Then New York can enjoy 2 1/2 years of miller and the first round from the qualifying offer. Very easy to get…..
dooley
That trade was made under duress by Reds management to quickly get rid of a guy facing a domestic abuse suspension. Now that it is served and the contenders have been separated from the pretenders, Chapman is the most valuable LHP on the market. The Yankees just made a smart baseball move by flipping a couple of mid-range prospects for, what should be, a couple of top prospects. There is no way the Yankees will trade Chapman for B and C prospects. They can just him into free agency, tender him, and get an additional 1st round talent next June to pair with what should be a high 1st round pick of their own.
eddieguglielmo23
*Lucas giolito
drum18
Like many NY fans I’m split between hoping to contend and seeing who can be had in exchange for assets. As of now, watching a team bounce around .500 doesn’t encourage a deep postseason run. There’s a lack of consistency offensively as well as in the rotation. This same group flushed first place last year and “appeared” in the wild card.
I think the returns for Miller and Chapman would be substantial at the very least. As of now, I’d swap this season for sustained success in the future, no doubt.
justacubsfan
Soler and Gleyber Torres for Andrew Miller. As much as I love Soler, I just don’t see him have a place on this team. Yanks get a long-term piece that is MLB ready, and they get a top prospect. Cubs get a guy who can lock down lefties and pitch the 8th or 9th.
jljr222
That’s nowhere near enough for Miller. Soler’s trade value is not that high and the Yankees have a lot of outfielders.
Voice of Reason
Everybody’s pig is prettiest
justacubsfan
A guy can hope. I would say soler probably has the value of a top 50-100 prospect gleyber is top 50. Not suggesting that’s what it would take, but it’s a good starting point. I think they might make a trade with Oakland for Doolittle.
jljr222
You have to keep in mind though that the Astros offered a package similar to the Ken Giles deal with the Phils and that still didn’t get it done. Just think about that prospect package and you would imagine Cashman will seek something similar if not more. I don’t know if anyone is going to give that up this trade deadline, but if they are not…keep him.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Giles had 5 years of control at the time. Miller has 2 and a half.
nadsmasher
Chapman and Beltran?
billysbballz
No way that happens, we have a plethora of SS prospects, Soler value is down so take out Torres and add Ian Happ and two top ten prospects to go along with Soler.
michaelw
justacubsfan – I do that deal in a heart beat. Yank fans think their RP are worth Trout bait. 5 prospects good thing they are not GM they be laughed out of MLB – That would be a fair trade. I even through in another prospect and add Chap to the deal. Yanks will only get one MLB ready player and a prospect – Maybe maybe two prospects at most for Miller – Chap probably worth Soler although your talking rental for MLB ready – But add the fact his numbers and the DL it probably be a fair trade and gamble on both ends.
justacubsfan
Well, I’m sure Cubs could throw in a guy like Vogelbach. So they could received two (vogelbach and Soler) MLB ready type players. 1 high end prospect (Torres) and maybe a pitching prospect (not a top one like cease or underwood), but someone in the middle pierce Johnson, Hudson, CJ Edwards. Not saying the yanks would accept because as mentioned above, the stros reportedly offered similar package as Giles for Miller, but if the Yankees continue to slide they might consider. Teams like the Nats, Rangers, BoSox (which I doubt they trade them) are only ones who could make a serious or comparable offer.
dooley
I wrote out my Yankees plan below. I think Miller for Torres, Happ and Eloy Jimenez makes more sense. Soler is owed way too much money to be of interest. It would be hard to imagine the Yankees making a trade that wouldn’t net Schwarber/Baez/Contreras but would bring in additional (bad) salary. The Yankees should be clearing money, not adding to it. If the Cubs won’t deal one of their “big 3”, the Yankees should not help them out at all by agreeing to take on a bad contract for an elite LHP closer who is cost-controlled for 2 years (at a very good price!). Happ and Jimenez are more attractive to me since they are 1) cheaper and 2) fit better with a plan to spend big on the 2018-19 free agency class.
Woozebag9
Let’s not forget that the Tony Barnette is pitching pretty well for the Rangers out of pen. Plus, Keone Kela coming back in July-August.
gobraves46
Never thought I’d see the sentence “…adding to the likes of Joe Blanton and Adam Liebatuare…” But low-and-behold
busse24
I’d like to see schwarber and soler for Chapman and miller
justacubsfan
Schwarber is a part of their long-term picture. Maybe not at catcher, but definitely in left and one game a week catching. He’s a consummate professional with a high end hit tool. Schwarber was a top prospect last year who only improved his stock. I would love for the Cubs to keep Contreras, Baez, Schwarbs. But I think Soler has become expendable with Almora playing well. Everyone overvalues their own guys, and everyone wants to get a Shelby Miller return, but more than likely it won’t happen. The Cubs’ brain trusts are too smart to do anything brash. I see Abad, Doolittle as their targets if they can’t work something out with the yanks. Oakland has been known to deal with us, and I think the twins would take more prospects as they’re still trying to find the right working parts.
jp08
Of coarse Solver is expendable, he is a career 258 hitter with 20 HR and 4x as many Ks than walks in a full seasons worth of ABs
notsofast
Nats just bring up Giolito to close, at least until Paps returns. That way they will know whether they need a big closer for a post season run.
nadsmasher
Need to put Carlos Beltran in the Yankee trade pool.
costergaard2
If the Yankees sell, Beltran and Gardner will join Miller and Chapman on the block. Beltran will likely start in RF at the ASG and is an expiring contract, Gardner’s contract is team friendly and he is doing ok this year.
Chris815
Ow bye the way for all you who think Tehran is not ace well look at this line complete game shutout 7 strikeouts / 0 walks .One hit and that should haven’t been hit in the third ing . What I mean about that is when count was 1-1 again conforto .Tehran throw pitch that ump called a ball and it was strike that made the count .Then Tehran throw the next pitch was was called strike . Then next pitch was ball and then 3-2 conforto got a little flair hit . So if the ump had call the 1-1 pitch correctly he would have stuck him out and Tehran would have thrown a perfect game today . So you tell me he isn’t a ace
jp08
Those darn umps. If only they called every pitch a strike….
cowdisciple
Yeah, he was so close! If he had gotten it, he’d be right up there with Proven Ace Dallas Braden and Proven Ace Phil Humber…
billysbballz
He isn’t but since you love him, keep him and stop asking for everyone’s best prospects. Fangraphs breaks him doe and when you factor in fastball velocity decrease, pitchers perk, no DH, weakest division, pitching to increased contact, etc. I’m guessing this kid in al east gets beat up more often and add a run and half to his era for starters.
dooley
As a Yankees fan, the reality has been that the Yankees have been in desperate need to properly rebuild for years. The pressure to win now in New York is too great and hurts their ability to properly develop their young talent. This is the absolute PERFECT season for the Yankees to stockpile their system with good, young talent. Bad teams like the Yankees have no need for elite closers – let alone 3 of them. The Yankees are not going to be good next year either so I would trade ALL THREE. Chop ’em up and send one to each highest bidding contender (unless a team overwhelms with an offer for 2 of the big 3). In addition, Beltran would make for a must-trade candidate to a contender. As would any player over the age of 30 that a contender inquires about. My plan for the coming years:
1. Trade Chapman to the Nationals for Reynaldo Lopez and Erick Fedde. Two explosive arms (Lopez moreso than Fedde) that are probably 1-2 years away, respectively. Chapman reunites with Dusty Baker and gives the Nats that power LHP to match up against Rizzo, Heyward, Fowler, Belt, A Gonzalez, etc.
2. Trade Miller to the Cubs for Gleyber Torres, Ian Happ, and Eloy Jimenez. Because Miller is cost-controlled at a very affordable $9M/yr, he costs more. 3 young impact position players is a fair price for a guy who will instantly become the Cubs shutdown closer in the upcoming title years. Maddon gets a LHP that can get Harper out. If the Cubs want both Chapman and Miller, then the asking price has to include Schwarber. If the Cubs balk at trading Schwarber, then this 3-for-1 deal is fair for both sides.
3. Trade Betances to the Rangers for Jurickson Profar. OR, trade Betances to the Rangers for Lewis Brinson, Luis Ortiz and Yohander Mendez. Like Miller, Betances is cost-controlled for several seasons. Unlike Miller, he does not cost the acquiring club $9M/yr. Because of this, Betances comes with the highest price tag. Texas is in desperate need for elite arms in the back-end of their pen. Enter Betances. Profar would give the Yankees their 2B or 3B of the long-term future while the Rangers deal away from their ridiculous surplus of talented middle infielders. If Profar is untouchable, the 3 for 1 deal works for both clubs. Brinson comes with a billing that exceed Nomar Mazara (who is tearing up MLB pitching in his rookie season), Ortiz is a power arm that is probably 2 years out and Mendez is a big LHP with good control.
4. Once Lourdes Gurriel, Jr is granted his free agency from Commissioner Manfred, you do whatever you can to sign him. Read: do not be overbid by a few million dollars like they were by Boston with Yoan Moncada. Gurriel is an instant upgrade over Castro or whoever they throw out at 3B today. If the Yankees can get Profar for Betances (see above), then the INF of Gurriel, Profar and Didi will be amongst the best in baseball.
If the Yankees can turn their 3 closers into 6-9 top young position players and pitchers, then that can pair nicely as they begin to turn the page from awful contracts to old players to talented youth (Teixeira into Bird, for example) and prepare for the All-Star free agency class of 2018=19.
talcha32
Rangers won’t trade Profar for a reliever. If Profar keeps up what he’s doing this season, Andrus is more likely to be dealt in the future.
The second offer would get a chuckle followed by JD hanging up the phone.
dooley
Andrus is a non-starter. No way is he of any interest whatsoever to any team at his salary. The Rangers could look to more affordable bullpen arms but ask the Tigers how difficult it is to find legit elite arms who can get guys out under playoff pressure. When you are in win-now mode, like the Rangers are, you have to address your weaknesses. For Texas, it is the bullpen.
talcha32
Rangers have the luxury of being in win now and later mode. Benefit of great young players and a great farm every year. If Profar continues playing well, don’t be surprised when Texas eats a decent amount of money to trade Andrus. Choo as well when Brinson is ready.
As for the Rangers right now. Trading for the sexy options like Miller and Chapman is well and good, but not always necessary. Texas has Dyson, Diekman, and Bush. A year and a half ago, none were well thought of. Then Texas put some work in. I’d bet it’s more likely you see JD and company go looking for guys with the potential and ability to be good with a few adjustments as they did with Dyson and Diekman. With Kela soon to return, our bullpen isn’t in as much trouble as everyone thinks.
jp08
New York has not had a losing season since 1992. They won’t blow it up and play like a dumpster team for draft picks.
dooley
They will if the level of prospects they are offered for Chapman are mid-level prospects with 50-60 projection. They can easily find a high upside amateur with a 1st round Comp pick they would get from tendering Chapman.
And hey, here’s another thought, the Yankees can always re-sign Chapman if they deal off Miller and/or Betances. So yes, the package for Chapman needs to be much better than what the Yankees traded to Cincinnati. No question about that.
jp08
They won’t let him go cheap, but new York won’t go all prospects, it will be like the didi trade, a player who is playing in the mlb who is young and controlled. I wouldn’t mind seeing new York go for Drury or Ray or Corbin from D backs, but I doubt they care much for relievers.
HalosFan
You’re going to be very upset
When the Cubs don’t give up one of those guys.