Cubs Haven't Shown Interest in Bringing Chapman Back

By ESPN

Aroldis Chapman wants a six-year deal and says the Chicago Cubs haven't shown interest in bringing him back.

Speaking to ESPN's Marly Rivera on the phone, Chapman said that the only thing he has asked for in negotiations is the term of his next deal.

"The only thing I have expressed that I would like is a six-year contract," the left-hander said. "I know that doesn't mean that I will get it, but that's what I would like to sign. There are rumors out there that I requested $100 million, and that's not true at all. I believe that if you deserve something, you don't ask for it."

Chapman has not had direct communications with teams yet.

"I have not had any meetings yet," he said. "My agents are the ones working on that. I expect to have some meetings this week."

Chapman, who routinely throws over 100 mph and who tied his own record last season by throwing a pitch 105 mph, doesn't think that one of those meetings will be with the Cubs.

"The Cubs have never expressed any interest in re-signing me, as far as I know," he said.

The New York Yankees traded Chapman to the Cubs in July for a package of minor leaguers that featured shortstop Gleyber Torres. In 28 games after the trade, Chapman had a 1.01 ERA and 16 saves.

In Game 7 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, Chapman gave up three runs (two earned) in the eighth inning that tied the game, but he threw a scoreless ninth and the Cubs rallied in the 10th to win their first title in 108 years.

White Sox Down the Road on Deal About Chris Sale

The Chicago White Sox were far down the road on a trade Monday night that would send ace left-hander Chris Sale to Washington in exchange for the Nationals' top two prospects -- right-hander Lucas Giolito and outfielder Victor Robles -- and a low minor leaguer, a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden on Monday.

Two of the Nationals' other top pitching prospects, right-handers Reynaldo Lopez and Koda Glover, will not be in the proposed deal, the source told Bowden. The structure of the deal was first reported by Fox Sports.

Earlier Monday, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he wasn't budging in his asking price for Sale, likely the biggest prize of the winter trade market because of his All-Star résumé and relatively modest contract.

"When you have negotiations with other clubs about potential trade fits, you have to have that line you aren't going to go below; otherwise you're compromising too much in terms of value," Hahn said Monday afternoon.

Sale, 27, is coming off his fifth straight All-Star season in 2016, when he finished 17-10 with 233 strikeouts in 226⅔ innings pitched.

But he is on a very team-friendly deal that will pay him $12 million in 2017, with club options of $12.5 million for 2018 and $13.5 million for 2019.

"You've seen what this guy has done over the years," Hahn said Monday. "We realize this is an elite-level talent. A rare commodity in this league."