Yankees Acquire Aroldis Chapman From Reds

The New York Yankees have bolstered an already dominant bullpen by acquiring hard-throwing All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds for four minor leaguers, the teams announced Monday.

The Reds, who have shed several veterans in the past six months, get right-handers Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda from New York.

"We felt this was an opportunity for us to add a big arm to our bullpen,'' said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who already had flamethrowers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller at the back end of his bullpen.

If the Yankees keep all three, they would be the fist team in MLB history to feature three pitchers who had at least 100 strikeouts in relief the season before, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The addition of Chapman sets up the possibility of a lockdown bullpen that can effectively shorten games to six innings, thereby reducing the demands on the Yankees' aging and shaky starting rotation.

But trading for Chapman comes with a real element of risk. A baseball source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN's Wallace Matthews that the Yankees made the trade knowing both Florida law enforcement officials and Major League Baseball are continuing to investigate the Oct. 30 incident in which Chapman allegedly choked his girlfriend and then fired eight shots from a handgun in the garage of his Davie, Florida, home.

Athletics, Alvarez Agree To Contract

The Athletics and pitcher Henderson Alvarez have agreed to a one-year contract. The team announced the move Monday.

Alvarez went 0-4 with a 6.45 ERA in four starts for Miami during a 2015 season shortened by two stints on the disabled list due to injuries to his right shoulder. He had season-ending surgery July 28 and became a free agent early this month, after the Marlins declined to offer him a 2016 contract. Otherwise, he would have been eligible for arbitration.

Alvarez, 25, is 27-34 with a 3.80 ERA in 92 career starts over five seasons with Toronto and Miami. The right-hander tossed a no-hitter on the final day of the 2013 season and had his best year in 2014, when he went 12-7 with a 2.65 ERA in 30 starts and made the National League All-Star team.

Right-hander Arnold Leon was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.