Revisiting the Yankees Fleecing the Chicago Cubs in the Aroldis Chapman Trade

Gleyber Torres has emerged as one of baseball's rising stars and at only 23 years old, is only getting better. The New York Yankees acquired Torres from the Chicago Cubs in a package that included flame throwing closer Aroldis Chapman which was highway robbery.

Right before the trade deadline in 2016, the Yankees traded Chapman for Torres, Adam Warren, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford. The Cubs were willing to send a haul to the Yankees as they were desperate for bullpen help to aid them to make a World Series run, even though Chapman was a free agent after the season. The Yankees were not a threat at the time, so they wanted to trade Chapman while they could still get something back for him.

The Cubs got what they wanted, as they won the 2016 World Series and ended a 108-year championship drought. After this, it seemed as the Cubs were the clear-cut winners of the trade, as it was enough to help them reach immortality.

However, that same offseason the Yankees re-signed Chapman to a five-year $86 million contract. They made the Cubs give up all these prospects including the extremely valuable Gleyber Torres for a relief pitcher the Yankees would ultimately get back.

Now after a little less than four years since the blockbuster trade, the Yankees are the clear winners. Torres has developed into an All-Star talent and is only improving. Chapman is still a Yankee and one of the top relievers in the MLB. The Cubs are currently a good team, however not a championship contender.

The Cubs ended their drought, and surely fans will remind you of that, but the Yankees could very well have jumpstarted another dynasty.