MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 29: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the Kansas City Royals delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field on April 29, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royals defeated the Twins 3-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
This time it shouldn’t cost the Chicago Cubs an arm and a leg to acquire Aroldis Chapman, who has revived his career with the Kansas City Royals.
Aroldis Chapman had an injury-plagued final season with the New York Yankees, which tainted his statistical output to the point Brian Cashman wanted nothing to do with him. Instead, Chapman signed a one-year rental contract with the Kansas City Royals, a team that will now almost assuredly flip him to a contender before the MLB Trade Deadline.
The Cubs have made this trade once before, but previously it cost them top prospect Gleyber Torres. This time around, Chapman would come a little cheaper, but he’s still a valuable commodity. Cubbies Crib floated the idea of a Chicago reunion for Chapman a few days ago:
“Who doesn’t like a little reunion? Former Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman has reemerged as a lockdown guy in his first month with the Kansas City Royals. In 11 outings this year, Chapman has a 1.74 ERA an 19 strikeouts over 10 innings. Perhaps most importantly, Chapman’s velocity seems to have returned to his usual triple-digit level. He is showing signs of his former power pitching levels and the Cubs should consider giving the Royals a prospect or two to bring Champman back to Chicago.”
What a Chicago Cubs trade for Aroldis Chapman would look like
Chapman alone probably isn’t enough to fetch a top-100 prospect, even if he makes the All-Star team. However, a prospect-laden package would be the easiest way to make this trade happen.
Cubs Get
LHP, Aroldis Chapman
Royals Get
LHP, Jordan Wicks
OF, Alexander Canario
LHP, Drew Gray
Wicks is the Cubs No. 5 prospect, as the four in front of him are in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospect rankings. The only way Chicago would consider trading one of them would be a one-for-one swap, and the Royals likely want several prospects in return for Chapman. Wicks is capable and major-league ready. Canario isn’t far behind, and he’s stashed in Chicago’s system given their top-3 prospects are all outfielders.
Gray is only 19 years old and has plenty of room for growth. He’s the sleeper of this deal, and could work out in the long haul for Kansas City.
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