The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are discussing a deal that would send left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs, as Christopher Meola reported today. 

Meola reports that the early names being discussed in this deal include Adam Warren and Javier Baez, both of whom would go to New York if the deal is completed. 

On the contrary, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic Chicago denied Meola's report, saying that the Cubs have not "engaged in talks" for Chapman. Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score reports that Chapman's name has come up in trade talks between the two sides. 

The 28-year-old Chapman is one of the best relievers in the Major Leagues. Consistently hitting 100 miles per hour (MPH) on his fastball, Chapman has posted a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings this year, saving 11 games in 12 opportunities. 

With a 21 to 3 strikeout-to-walk ratio (currently the best of his career), Chapman has a 0.77 FIP and a 2.28 xFIP. He has been worth 0.8 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (fWAR). 

Chapman was suspended for the first 30 games this season due to violations of Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. 

A trade for Chapman could make sense for the Cubs, who currently rank 18th in the Major Leagues with just 0.4 fWAR from their relievers collectively. Their collective relievers' ERA is one of the better in the league (7th), but FIP (20th) and xFIP (8th) suggest that it may not be sustainable. 

Hector Rondon has been the Cubs' closer this year, and he's done an excellent job in the role, pitching to his similarly fantastic 1.40 ERA and 1.89 FIP. He's saved all 11 opportunities. So, if the Cubs do get Chapman, he may not close for them going forward. 

Chapman was arbitration eligible for the final time this past offseason, and he settled with the Yankees for $11.325 million. He will be a free agent at the end of the season. 

​--Devan Fink

Note: Meola has been correct on many reports in the past, including Kenta Maeda's deal with the Dodgers and Giancarlo Stanton's mega deal with the Marlins. 

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has been suspended 30 games for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy, Billy Witz of the New York Times reported. 

This suspension is stemming from an incident last October, as Jeff Passan and Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reported. He allegedly choked his girlfriend and pushed her up against a wall. Chapman also allegedly discharged a gun in the garage of his home. 

Chapman was not arrested and no charges were brought against him, though the league still investigated the incident and commissioner Rob Manfred decided on his discipline. 

Chapman released a statement, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Facebook, saying that he will not appeal Major League Baseball's decision:

"I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening. However, I should have exercised better judgment with respect to certain actions, and for that I am sorry. The decision to accept a suspension, as opposed to appealing one, was made after careful consideration. I made this decision in an effort to minimize the distractions that an appeal would cause the Yankees, my new teammates and most importantly, my family."

Chapman, 28, was acquired by the Yankees this offseason in a trade with the Reds. 

Last year, the former Cuban signee went 4-4 with a minuscule 1.63 ERA (1.94 FIP; 2.49 xFIP) and a 116 to 33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 66 1/3 innings pitched. He saved 33 games in 36 opportunities, and, according to FanGraphs, he was worth 2.5 Wins Above Replacement.

Major League Baseball and Manfred now must turn their attention to other domestic violence cases. 

Rockies' shortstop Jose Reyes is currently on paid leave after allegedly striking his wife. He is set for a trial in Hawaii. This Chapman decision will almost certainly impact how Manfred decides future cases. 

​--Devan Fink

The New York Yankees have acquired left-handed relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Jack Curry of the YES Network first reported the deal. 

In exchange, the Reds received four prospects, including right-handed pitchers Rookie Davis and Caleb Cotham and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda. 

The biggest move in the trade is obviously Chapman to New York, which does constitute a big risk. 

Chapman was reportedly involved in a domestic violence incident a few months ago, Yahoo! Sports reported during the Winter Meetings. At that time, the Reds were close to dealing Chapman to the Dodgers, but because of the allegations, the deal fell through. 

With that said, Major League Baseball has a new domestic violence policy, where the commissioner has the chance to punish players how he feels necessary. 

One interesting aspect to this saga is Chapman's free agent status. If he is put on MLB's restricted list in 2016 (in the event he is suspended), it is possible he could not reach six seasons of Major League Service Time, thus delaying his free agency to after the 2017 season. The Yankees must have taken this into consideration. 

Domestic violence issues aside, Chapman adds another element to an already-dominant back-end of the Yankees bullpen. Alongside Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, New York now possesses the pitchers with the top three highest strikeout rates in baseball from 2014 to 2015. Chapman posted a 46.3 strikeout percentage (percent of plate appearances that ended in a strikeout), Miller posted a 41.6 percentage, and Betances posted a 39.5 percentage. 

Chapman is easily the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball, easily hitting 100 MPH and topping out over 103. He will step into the closer's role in 2016, the position held by Miller last year. 

In 2015, Chapman went 4-4 with a 1.63 ERA and a 116 to 33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 66 1/3 innings pitched last season. He saved 33 games in 36 opportunities and was named to his fourth All-Star team in a row. According to FanGraphs, the Cuban lefty was worth 2.5 Wins Above Replacement. 

For the Reds, the deal of Chapman helps their rebuilding efforts for the future. While none of the prospects they got are true headliners, Davis and Jagielo are projected to have a chance to make a true big league impact down the road. 

​--Devan Fink

Here are the two biggest news bits out of the South Side of Chicago, as the Cubs make moves at the Winter Meetings. 

Cubs sign Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal

Chicago signed infielder and outfielder Ben Zobrist to a four-year, $56 million deal, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported earlier this evening. 

Zobrist was thought to be deciding between the Mets, Nationals, and Giants before he agreed to his next contract with the "mystery team" Cubs. At $14 million per season, the Cubs are paying for an above-average bat and extremely versatile player who can help in a variety of roles with the team. 

The 34-year-old Zobrist hit .276/.359/.450 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs last season in 535 plate appearances with the Athletics and Royals. He has defensive experience at every position put pitcher and catcher. Zobrist's signing should open up the position player free agent market. 

The signing of Zobrist to play second base led to the following move just minutes later. 

Cubs trade Starlin Castro to Yankees for Adam Warren, PTBNL

The Yankees acquired second baseman Starlin Castro from the Cubs in exchange for pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named later, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The deal has since been announced. 

The player to be named later will be Brendan Ryan, according to media reports. 

The 25-year-old Castro has been a part of the Cubs his entire career, but had been subject to trade rumors at the trade deadline into the Winter Meetings due to the team having plenty of talent all around the diamond. 

Last season, Castro had somewhat of a down year, hitting .265/.296/.375 with 11 home runs and 69 RBIs in 578 plate appearances. He was much better in the second half, however, posting a .783 OPS (compared to a .603 OPS in the first half). 

Castro is signed to an eight-year, $60.57 million deal that started in 2012 and runs through 2019. It includes a team option for 2020. 

Castro will provide an immediate upgrade for the Yankees at second base, moving Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder to the bench.

​--Devan Fink

The Philadelphia Phillies appear motivated to move second baseman Chase Utley before the August 31 waiver trade deadline. Many rumors have circulated as to which teams are interested in trading for him. Here is the latest regarding Utley. 

According to multiple reports, the Cubs, Angels, Yankees, Giants, and Dodgers have been mentioned as the likeliest destinations for Utley. The Astros are also receiving "credible buzz" about being in on him, as Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reported this evening. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that executives involved in discussions for Utley believe that he will choose to go to either the Cubs or the Angels.  

Utley has 10-and-5 no-trade rights, meaning that because he has spent at least 10 years in the Major Leagues and at least five with the same team (Philadelphia), he can block a trade to any team. Therefore, the Phillies and Utley must come to a consensus as to where he will go before he is ultimately dealt. 

Utley has drawn appeal from more teams than just those in need for a second baseman. The Astros, for instance, are definitely fine out at second, but could use an upgrade out at first base. Utley can play first or possibly designated hitter, which has allowed more clubs to come into play for trade discussion. 

The 36-year-old Utley is signed just through this season, but has a vesting option for 2016 if he reaches 500 plate appearances this year (which is pretty much guaranteed not to vest due to disabled list time). On the season, Utley is hitting .208/.276/.313 in 272 plate appearances. Since coming off the disabled list on August 7, he's hitting .500/.478/.682 in six games. 

--Devan Fink