Despite their recent hot streak, it appears the Yankees are planning to sell off some veterans at the trade deadline, and it looks like closer Aroldis Chapman will be the first to go.
Sources: #Yankees telling clubs that they are close to trading Chapman and will hold Miller.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2016
nats, cubs, giants indians were in on chapman last heard. @Ken_Rosenthal says yanks telling teams might have deal soon
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 24, 2016
Both Chapman and Andrew Miller have been mentioned as trade candidates for weeks now, and there is no shortage of suitors. Pretty much every contender could use another elite left-hander in the bullpen.
Chapman, 28, has 20 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 31 1/3 innings this year. He had to serve a 30-game suspension under the league's new domestic violence policy at the outset of the season, and the suspension is one of the reasons the Yankees were able to acquire him from the Reds at a discount.
The Yankees figure to get more in return for Chapman than they gave up because the uncertainty surrounding the suspension no longer exists. No one knew how long he would be suspended at the time of the trade. Now the suspension has been served and he's ready to jump into a pennant race.
Following Saturday's loss (SF 2, NY 1), the Yankees are 49-48 this season and 4 1/2 games back of a wild-card spot. Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova, and others could be trade bait in addition to Chapman and Miller.
