Cubs Trade Soler, Yankees Sign Chapman

By ESPN

The Chicago Cubs have traded outfielder Jorge Soler to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for closer Wade Davis, the teams announced Wednesday.

Davis, who has a 1.18 ERA over the past three seasons, with three homers allowed, had arm trouble that forced him to the disabled list, and he was limited to 43⅓ innings in 2016. Davis, 31, made 10 appearances for the Royals after returning from the DL in September.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Davis' ERA as a reliever (1.51) is the lowest ever among all pitchers with at least 250 career innings in relief.

Davis is set to make $10 million in 2017, before becoming eligible for free agency. Since terms for the new collective bargaining agreement were negotiated last week, the Royals have evaluated the impact of the new rules and have decided to market some veterans. Besides Davis, first baseman Eric Hosmer, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and third baseman Mike Moustakas are also eligible for free agency after the 2017 season.

Yankees Sign Aroldis Chapman

The New York Yankees have reunited with left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman on a five-year, $86 million deal, the four-time All-Star told ESPN's Marly Rivera.

"I love the organization, they welcomed me with open arms, and that's why I decided to go back," Chapman told Rivera on Wednesday night after agreeing to the largest contract ever for a reliever. "I was hoping I had a chance to go back, and it happened.

"Every player dreams of being a Yankee, and if they don't, it's because they never got the chance."

Chapman, 28, cannot be dealt to some West Coast teams and cannot be dealt at all in the first three years of the contract.

"I just don't want to go that far," he said. "I did have the opportunity to stay here near my house [with the Miami Marlins], but no, I leaned more toward New York. I like the Bronx more."

The Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers were the other finalists in the Chapman sweepstakes. While the Marlins were in it until the very end, the Dodgers dropped their pursuit earlier.

Chapman will slot behind Dellin Betances to work the ninth inning, as the Yankees will try to shorten games behind what could be a shaky starting rotation.

Nearly a year ago, the Yankees traded for Chapman, who was in the Cincinnati Reds' discount bin because of a domestic violence incident being investigated by police. While Chapman was never charged, he accepted a 30-day suspension for violating the domestic violence policy.

For the Yankees, Chapman stayed out of trouble and pitched well. The Yankees restored his trade value and dealt him to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline. While Chapman helped the Cubs win the World Series, the Yankees received four prospects, headlined by 19-year-old Gleyber Torres, who won the Arizona Fall League MVP.

"They are full of talented young players who want to prove themselves," Chapman said of the Yankees, who finished 84-78 last season. "Last year, in a short time, they proved they can be a great team."

Nationals Acquire Eaton From White Sox

The Washington Nationals acquired outfielder Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for three pitchers Wednesday.

In return for Eaton, the Nationals sent right-handed pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning to Chicago.

The trade, which represents Washington's first major transaction of the offseason, comes one day after the Nats missed out on former White Sox ace Chris Sale, who had been strongly linked to the Nationals in trade talks but instead wound up going to the Boston Red Sox.

"It's never easy to let go of your prospects," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "You feel like a proud daddy when they get to the big leagues."

Predominantly a center fielder before last season, Eaton will likely switch back to center in Washington, a move that would allow young star Trea Turner to return to shortstop, his natural position.

"The only negative I've heard is you have to calm him down a little bit," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Eaton. "Because he goes 100 percent all the time, which is not a bad way to play this game. ... He's not afraid to get dirty and grimy, greasy, nasty -- do everything there is to beat you."

As for where Eaton might hit in the lineup -- like Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy, he bats left-handed -- Baker said: "That remains to be seen. We do have options to try to break them up."

In the deal, the Nationals have surrendered two first-round picks. Giolito, the 16th overall selection in 2012, was rated as one of the top prospects in baseball this past summer by both ESPN's Keith Law (No. 2 overall) and Baseball America (No. 4 overall). In six games with Washington last season (four starts), the 6-foot-6 righty was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Dunning, a University of Florida product, was the Nationals' first-round pick last season (29th overall).

Also headed to Chicago is Lopez, a 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who was rated as the team's third-best prospect. In 11 games with Washington in 2016, the 6-foot right-hander went 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA.