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Chapman big positive with a negative for Chicago Cubs

For Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein, it was a matter of balance.

Few are better at walking the verbal razor's edge than Epstein, and Monday was the biggest test he faced in that regard since he came to Chicago in the fall of 2011.

The subject was the day's trade with the New York Yankees for hard-throwing but controversial closer Aroldis Chapman.

The Cubs sent four players to the Yankees organization for Chapman: highly touted shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, minor-league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford and pitcher Adam Warren, who spent time with the Cubs this season after being traded to them by the Yankees last off-season for infielder Starlin Castro.

Whether you agree with what Epstein had to say, he made his case decisively and without being defensive.

In a half-hour meeting with the media before Monday night's game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Epstein said the trade was one made to help the Cubs get to the World Series this season. He also paid heed to the consternation and even anger some fans might feel toward the deal given Chapman's 30-game suspension at the beginning this year for violating Major League Baseball's policy on domestic violence.

Last fall, Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend and firing eight gunshots. No charges were filed. At the time, Chapman was a member of the Cincinnati Reds, his team from the beginning of his big-league career in 2010. The Los Angeles Dodgers backed out of a trade for Chapman in the wake of the incident, but the Reds were able to move him to the Yankees.

Chapman, a native of Cuba, was 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 20 saves for the Yankees, striking out 44 in 31⅓ innings. Chapman has reached upward of 105 mph with his fastball.

So the baseball side of the equation was easy, especially given that the Cubs lead the National League Central.

"We made a trade today that shows a lot of faith in our big-league club," Epstein said. "We said when we first got there that every chance to win is sacred. We believe that. You can't take for granted the position that we're in right now.

"The goal is to win three postseason series. That's not an easy thing to do. You need dynamic players. We felt like we could really benefit from an elite talent, a game-changing pitcher like Aroldis Chapman. … It was an aggressive move. It was tough to give up what we gave up. But if not now, when?"

The Cubs got out in front of the other side of the equation quickly. They released statements Monday afternoon from team chairman Tom Ricketts and from Chapman himself, who expressed regret for the incident.

He will join the Cubs for Tuesday's game against the White Sox, and although he will meet the media, he said in the statement that he will not address last fall's incident. Ricketts noted the "high expectations we set for our players both on and off the field."

Epstein said the Cubs sought and received a "window" in which to talk with Chapman on Monday before the trade was consummated. That window was granted by MLB and agreed to by the Yankees.

"We have that serious, thoughtful, careful consideration over an extended period of time," Epstein said. "We take the issue of character very seriously and continue to. Obviously, we take the issue of domestic violence very seriously.

"We understand that there will be lots of different perspectives on this, that there will be lots of strong feelings about this and that people are going feel differently about it. We understand that, and we respect it.

"In the end, it was our decision, and in the end, we decided it was appropriate to trade for a player who has accepted his discipline, who has already been disciplined by Major League Baseball, who expressed his sorrow and his regret for the incident in a statement at the time, in a meaningful statement today, and even more importantly to me and Tom directly today over the phone before we were willing to consummate the trade."

The Cubs have made it a point to mention that they scout the character and makeup of players. The trade for Chapman no doubt raised eyebrows on that score.

Chapman may become a free agent at the end of this season, and Epstein said there were no talks of a possible contract extension.

"It doesn't mean that we're turning our back on the importance of character at all," Epstein said. "I think because we've emphasized character and building this core that we have this tremendously strong clubhouse culture. We think it will help Aroldis as he moves forward."

• Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.

Rondon just wants to help where needed

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