The Yankees are informing other clubs that they are nearing a trade of closer Aroldis Chapman but will hang on to fellow left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported on Saturday night. The club has not confirmed the report.
It's not clear what team could be close to acquiring Chapman, but MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported on Friday that the Nationals had made Chapman their top target ahead of the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. MLB Network's Jon Heyman named the Cubs, Giants and Indians as other teams that had been pursuing Chapman. And on Sunday, Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com in Chicago reported that the Indians had the best offer on the table and a deal might be close, but the Nats were also being aggressive.
Chapman pitched two scoreless innings in the Yankees' 2-1, 12-inning loss to the Giants on Saturday in the Bronx. He gave up one hit and struck out three, lowering his ERA to 2.01 over 31 appearances, to go along with 20 saves. The 28-year-old is due to become a free agent after this season.
Miller, 31, struck out two in a scoreless frame on Saturday and now owns a 1.45 ERA in 42 appearances this season. He is set to make $9 million in both of the final two years of the contract he signed with the Yankees before the 2015 season.