The Chicago Cubs just keep on getting better and better. On Monday, the best team in baseball strengthened their bullpen, adding Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees for their top prospect Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, former Yankee Adam Warren, and Rashad Crawford. The trade has been speculating for days, but the teams finally pulled the trigger at around noon ET on Monday. 

What this trade means for the Cubs

Chapman can help any bullpen, as he's hands down one of the best relievers in baseball. This season with the Yankees, Chapman has a 2.01 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 20 saves in 31.1 innings. The flamethrower was sidelined the first 30 games of the season, as he had an alleged domestic violence case in the offseason. His best season came in 2012, where he had a 1.51 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 71.2 innings with the Cincinnati Reds. 

Hector Rondon has served as the closer all season long for the Cubs and has been terrific. The right-hander has 18 saves this season, as well as a 1.95 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 37 innings. Rondon will slide into a set-up role, as Chapman will obviously be the closer. 

Hector Rondon will go from closer to set-up man for Aroldis Chapman | Steve Mitchell - USA TODAY Sports
Hector Rondon will go from closer to set-up man for Aroldis Chapman | Steve Mitchell - USA TODAY Sports

As a team, the Cubs have the 14th best bullpen ERA in baseball at 3.83. Other key contributors to the bullpen include Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm, Trevor Cahill, and Travis Wood. The bullpen has been one of the lone weak spots for Chicago this season, but with this trade, this could push them over the top. 

The Cubs already have the best record in baseball at 59-38, and now that they have a better bullpen, there is no reason not to think the Cubs are the favorites to win their first World Series since 1908.

After this season, Chapman will become a free agent for the first time. He was reportedly unwilling to have extension talks with the Yankees, so the Cubs will be aggressive to attempt to keep the left-hander at Wrigley Field for longer than just this season. 

What the trade means for the Yankees

It's official. The Yankees are now in seller mode. Chapman is the first to go, but don't be surprised if other big names like Carlos Beltran and Andrew Miller find their ways out of New York soon. The Yankees are currently 50-48, 7.5 games behind the first-place Baltimore Orioles in the AL East and 4.5 games out a wildcard spot. 

With Torres, this could be a sign of even more things to come. Jorge Mateo is already a highly regarded shortstop prospect, and Didi Gregorius is still a reliable option. Whether it is a position change or another trade, another move is coming.

Andrew Miller is still part of the New York Yankees for now | Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Miller is still part of the New York Yankees for now | Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports

If the Yankees still believe they can contend for a playoff spot this year, they still have the tools to do it. Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances remain two of the best relievers in baseball, and they are still wearing pinstripes, at least at the moment. 

Torres is the No. 24 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, and has a .275 batting average with the Class-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans

With this trade, Brian Cashman deserves a lot of credit. In the offseason, Chapman's stock fell due to an alleged domestic violence case and acquired him for mediocre prospects. As a result, Chapman is on the move again, and the Yankees got themselves an elite prospect. 

We are still a week away from the trade deadline and expect the Yankees to stay active.

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About the author
Oliver P. Gold
A Providence, Rhode Island based sports journalist and blogger with expertise in baseball and basketball. Includes MLB, NBA and NCAA College Basketball. New England sports fan of Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics and Providence Friars.