CHICAGO -- Before the Chicago Cubs completed a trade for Aroldis Chapman, owner Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein decided they had to hear from the closer himself about a domestic violence allegation in the offseason.So Ricketts and Epstein asked Major League Baseball for a window to speak with the left-hander, and they got him on the phone Monday. When the conversation was over, the blockbuster deal was on.Chasing their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs addressed one of their few weaknesses by sending a pricey package of four players to the New York Yankees for Chapman, one of the most dominant relievers in the game, but one who also comes with some risk for a franchise riding a positive wave.This is a game-changer. Aroldis Chapman is a game-changing-type pitcher in the postseason, Epstein said. As you sit around and game plan how youre going to win a big game or how youre going to win a postseason game, it makes it look a lot easier when you see him there on your lineup card.Chapman is expected to join the Cubs for Tuesday nights game at the crosstown White Sox.For the Yankees, it was a rare July trade that saw the best player in the deal leaving New York. But Chapman is eligible for free agency after this season, New York also has All-Stars Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances in the bullpen, and its haul included top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, versatile pitcher Adam Warren and minor league outfielders Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.This was an easy call, and this was the right call, general manager Brian Cashman said. Easy because we traded from an area of strength and we are excited about the players that weve received for someone that obviously was only under control for two more months.The Yankees (51-48) are three games over .500 for the first time this season, but they still face long odds of getting to the playoffs. They made the decision to trade Chapman after his agents said he would not agree to a new contract that would start in 2017, a person familiar with the talks said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statement on those talks was authorized.If New York slips back any further, it could engage in a rare sell-off for the franchise. Miller, signed through 2018, also could be traded. All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher Ivan Nova are eligible for free agency after the season and could be sought by contenders.I think that when the right buy-or-sell circumstance presents itself, then this department will be making recommendations to ownership and then they will direct me on what they want, Cashman said.The 28-year-old Chapman went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 20 saves in 31 games for New York. He threw a 105.1 mph fastball to Baltimores J.J. Hardy last week, matching the fastest since Major League Baseball began tracking speeds in 2008.With lefty-batting sluggers Bryce Harper of Washington and Brandon Belt of San Francisco possibly looming in the playoffs, the addition of Chapman gives Cubs manager Joe Maddon one of the majors top assets when in need of a late strikeout.The Cubs have been playing really good baseball, Chapman said through a translator before he left Houston to travel to Chicago. I think theyre probably one of the better teams in both leagues right now. They have a good rhythm right now. Theyre fighting to get that ring, so it might be a good experience for me to be there.Chapman, who threw the 62 fastest pitches in the majors last season, was traded from Cincinnati to New York last December after a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers fell through when it was learned Florida police investigated an accusation of domestic violence involving the Cuban pitcher.Prosecutors declined to file charges, citing conflicting accounts, and Chapman was suspended for the first 29 games of the season, losing $1,856,557 of his $11,325,000 salary. He was the first player penalized a finite number of games under Major League Baseballs domestic violence policy.I regret that I did not exercise better judgment and for that I am truly sorry, Chapman said Monday in a statement released by the NL Central-leading Cubs. Looking back, I feel I have learned from this matter and have grown as a person. My girlfriend and I have worked hard to strengthen our relationship, to raise our daughter together, and would appreciate the opportunity to move forward without revisiting an event we consider part of our past.Epstein said the club thoroughly investigated the situation. But it wasnt until they spoke with Chapman on Monday that they were ready to complete the deal.There was genuine sorrow, regret, Epstein said before Monday nights 5-4 loss to the White Sox. Hes open about the fact that hes learned from the incident and that he feels hes grown as a person and will continue to grow as a person and that was important to us.Asked if the Cubs spoke with Chapmans girlfriend or someone close to her, Epstein said they took efforts to make sure they looked at the issue from every possible side.Warren was drafted by New York and made his major league debut with the Yankees in 2012. He was traded to Chicago in the December deal that moved infielder Starlin Castro from the Cubs to the Yankees.But the centerpiece of the Yankees package is the 19-year-old Torres, one of the top infield prospects in baseball.Were disappointed we swung and missed in our efforts to sign him as an international free agent back in the 2013 class, but certainly you keep your eyes on players youve liked in the past and he was definitely a target for us, Cashman said.---AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York and AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Cheap NMDS For Sale . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. Cheap Adidas NMD China .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. http://www.cheapadidasnmd.com/ . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Adidas NMD 2018 Online . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Cheap Adidas NMD Shoes For Sale . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Kushal Das, General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has revealed that he will be meeting representatives of Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar, the two Goan clubs which had announced their withdrawal from the I-League, on July 1. He has also promised that the 2016-17 season of the I-League will be played among nine, or possibly even ten, teams.Das will also be meeting with Shrinivas Dempo, chairman of five-times national league champions Dempo, who are also reportedly considering a withdrawal from the I-League, despite having won promotion to the top division just last month.Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa announced, on June 24, that they had decided to leave the I-League with effect from the coming season over the AIFFs decision to restructure the national football league system. The AIFFs draft plan, made public last month, is to form a three-tier football system in India from 2017-18. The ISL will form the top tier of the competition and its teams will be insulated from relegation; the I-League and its lower division will become the second and third divisions, with relegation and promotion only taking place between these two tiers of competition.The Goan clubs are said to be displeased about the AIFFs proposed roadmap, but Das has clarified that it would be incorrect to assume that there would be no promotion or relegation among the three tiers in future.The AIFF and its marketing partners while putting in this proposal had the best interest of Indian Football in mind and the whole objective was to create a sustainable club model across all the three tiers, Das told ESPN.We feel that in 6-7 years timme, we will be able to create a sustainable club revenue model which would allow for seamless promotion to the top tier.dddddddddddd When I meet the clubs, I will try and explain the rationale and hope that they understand and continue to work with us for the betterment of Indian football.The two Goan clubs had termed AIFFs proposed roadmap as highly discriminatory and against sporting merit, but Das has said that the AIFF is in the process of continually receiving feedback from clubs and that they will review all suggestions and decide on the final course of action only by August-September.Responding to the clubs allegation that the games governing body hadnt settled dues from as far back as 2008, Das said, As agreed with the clubs, the dues for fielding youth teams is being adjusted against the participating fees for all I-League clubs. As we understand, nothing is due to the clubs except for last season, which will be cleared soon.Das, however, has clarified that while the AIFF might actively consider increasing the number of ISL teams, there is no immediate plan to increase the number of Indian players in the playing conditions - currently a minimum of five Indians are required to be part of the starting eleven - as has been suggested by some experts. We need to understand that there are commercial considerations which need to be kept in mind. The ISL has been fairly successful in the first two seasons and we must ensure that the spectators interest and the visibility does not get diluted, said Das. ' ' '