Cubs Shouldn't Regret Gleyber Torres-Aroldis Chapman Trade for Even 1 Second
By Parker White
The Cubs put all their eggs in one basket in order to win the World Series in 2016, and while they achieved their goal, it came at a cost. Most notably, the Cubs traded then-top prospect Gleyber Torres to land Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees, a move that helped them seal the deal and end their 100+ year drought, but ultimately saw them part ways with a future star.
And now that Torres is developed into a bonafide stud, and Chapman ended up back in New York, some fans are having regrets about the deal.
Well, we're here to quell those regrets, as despite their disappointing 2019 season, the Cubs winning it all in 2016 absolutely justifies the deal.
The whole point of making a “go for it” trade is to go for it. Have to give something to get something. Cubs chose that path and won it all. Torres could end up being a Hall of Famer and I still wouldn’t think it was a bad deal for the Cubs.
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) October 8, 2019
(Yankees fan perspective, admittedly)
The Cubs struck when the iron was at its hottest, dealing Torres to effectively lock up the missing component of their World Series run. And it worked!
Chapman signing back with the Yankees after the 2016 campaign hurts, but having Torres around wouldn't make this Cubs team so much better that they'd be in October right now.
I just can't see an argument here. If there's ever a time to deal away an elite prospect, that's precisely when you do it.
— Chris Cwik (@Chris_Cwik) October 8, 2019
No Cubs fan is trading that ring for Torres right now. I won't believe anyone who says otherwise.
So, while watching Torres emerge as one of the best young players in baseball, doing so while donning the Yankees' pinstripes, Cubs fans shouldn't feel robbed. They should relish in the fact that they got to witness the team's first World Series title since 1908 and put an end to the longest championship drought in MLB history.