The New York Yankees acquired hard-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman on Monday.
In return, the Cincinnati Reds received prospects Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis, both right handed pitchers, and Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda, both infielders.
Chapman went 4-4 with 33 saves and a 1.63 ERA in 65 appearances for the Reds last season. He came cheap despite New York’s deep pockets because of a supposed domestic-violence incident in which he allegedly choked his girlfriend and fired shots into the air. The turbulent offseason may mean that Chapman’s 2016 season starts late because of a suspension. News of the event jettisoned a trade between the Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers involving the lefty closer.
The New York Yankees release pointed out that Chapman “recorded his 500th career strikeout on July 19 vs. Cleveland, having reached the plateau in 292.0IP to become the fastest to 500K by innings pitched in Major League history” and “threw the 62 fastest pitches in the Majors in 2015, with a high of 103.92 mph on June 29.”
Chapman’s pitches average 100 miles per hour.