According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, the Cubs narrowed down the prospect they wanted in return for Alfonso Soriano to Joel De La Cruz, Chase Whitley, Corey Black, and an unidentified prospect. Cotillo says that the signs are pointing toward Black being the player, with Thunder beat writer Josh Norris also throwing that name out there earlier tonight.
Black is a right-handed pitching prospect that the Yankees drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. He throws absolute gas, with velocity readings topping out near triple digits. In 19 starts for the Tampa Yankees this season, Black has a 4.25 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 82.2 innings. He's walked 45 batters and given up only two home runs. At 5'11", Black might be destined for the bullpen in the majors.
Most players who are on the brink of a trade are not allowed to play in the game as the details are being finalized. If that holds true, it seems like Whitley may be off the Cubs' radar, as he appeared in tonight's Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre game. De La Cruz is also a pitcher for the High-A Tampa Yankees, but has mainly worked out of the bullpen. In 24 games this season. De La Cruz has a 2.51 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. The Yankees signed the 24-year-old as a non-drafted free agent all the way back in 2006.
If Corey Black, or De La Cruz or Whitley, was the move for Soriano, would you be disappointed? Do you think it's too much for the Yankees to give up?