It appears that the Chicago Cubs have acquired closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees in a multi-player deal.

The Cubs have been interested in obtaining Chapman for more than a month. At one point, it appeared the Cubs wanted both Chapman and Andrew Miller.

The Yankees, of course, acquired Chapman in the off-season from the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati had nearly made a deal to send Chapman to the Dodgers, but the deal fell through when news of Chapman’s domestic violence incident against his girlfriend in Miami broke wide open. The Boston Red Sox had also been interested in Chapman, but when they learned of the incident they decided to set their sights on Craig Kimbrel instead.

Chapman served a 30-day suspension in the first month of the season, but his short tenure in the Bronx was very good. In 31 appearances with the Yankees, Chapman went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA with 20 saves fanning 44 while walking only eight batters in 31 1/3 innings pitched.

But what do the Cubs have against Hector Rondon? In 38 games for the Cubs this season, Rondon is 1-2 with a 1.95 ERA with 18 saves with 48 strikeouts and only five walks over 37 innings.

I just don’t think Chapman is a significant upgrade over Rondon. I made this same argument when the Dodgers tried to pursue Chapman. As with Rondon, I don’t think Chapman is appreciably better than Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.

As much as I admire Theo Epstein and company, in acquiring Chapman, the Cubs made a deal for the sake of making a deal.

As for the Yankees, they will get four players including the Cubs’ top prospect Gleyber Torres. A shortstop by trade, the Yankees may move him to second or third (I think the latter is more likely). Interestingly, they also get pitcher Adam Warren. During this past off-season, the Yankees dealt Warren to the Cubs for Starlin Castro. Now Castro and Warren are teammates.

Now that the Yankees have dealt Chapman, will they also deal Miller and have Dellin Betances become the closer? By trading Chapman, the Yankees have signaled they are thinking towards 2017 and beyond.