Latest MLB Rumors suggest that the Chicago Cubs are looking to the New York Yankees’ loaded bullpen for relief help.
There Chicago Cubs roster is loaded across the board, but if there is one area for improvement, it is the bullpen. According to George King of the NY Post, the Cubs are showing interest in the New York Yankees’ elite relief pitchers.
“(Cubs’) Scout Jason Parks was at Yankee Stadium, and according to industry sources, he was looking at the trio of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman,” King reported.
At 43-18, the Cubs have the best record in baseball and appear primed to make a run at their first World Series championship since 1908. The Cubs have a dominant, league-leading pitching staff and a powerful offensive squad that has an incredible +162 run differential so far this season.
There are few weak spots on this powerful Cubs’ team, but the more impact talent they add to the mix, the better chance they have at breaking their historic (for the wrong reasons) 108-year title drought.
Back of the bullpen help is certainly a possible area of improvement for the Cubs. Closer Hector Rondon has been absolutely incredible (11-for-11 in saves, 1.33 ERA), and guys like Pedro Strop, Trevor Cahill, Travis Wood, Justin Grimm and Adam Warren make up a solid set-up situation.
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However, there is room for improvement, and the 31-32, fourth-place Yankees would be ideal trade partners for the Cubs if they decide to sell.
It seems unlikely the Yankees will trade Dellin Betances, but the Cubs seem more likely to be interested in the left-handed relievers anyway. Now, as one of the best relievers in baseball and with two years of contract control after 2016, Andrew Miller would be the ideal get for the Cubs.
Miller is currently dominating for the Yankees in a set-up role, and has been fantastic as a closer in the past. Whether the Cubs would want Miller as set-up or in the ninth, he is among the best at both.
That being said, given Miller’s contract situation, it is unlikely the Yankees will move him for anything less than a huge haul. Guys like Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez and Jorge Soler have been mentioned as potential trade chips should the Cubs decide to go after Miller, but with the possible exception of Soler, that seems extremely unlikely.
Instead, Aroldis Chapman, who will hit free agency this offseason, seems like the most likely of the Yankees elite bullpen arms to make a move. While Chapman would likely demand to be the Cubs’ closer, a one-two punch of him and Rondon at the end of the Cubs’ bullpen would be dominant.
Also, since he is only under team control for 2016, the Cubs could probably pry Chapman away from the Yankees for players who are not important to their 2016 run at a World Series.
MLB Rumors can be crazy at times, but the Cubs looking to trade for Yankees’ relievers makes a ton of sense on all levels.
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