Already at this early point in the offseason, Yankees exec Brian Cashman confirms that the team has been in touch with former closer Aroldis Chapman, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News writes. Cashman has been in contact with representatives of other players as well, and seems to be focusing on pitching this offseason.
“There are certainly some names out there that are pretty good,” Cashman says. “It’s probably a thin starting pitching market, there are a number of different relievers in the market; certainly more relievers in this free agency than there are starters of quality. The trade route is obviously an area we’ll see what develops over time.”
The Yankees, of course, traded four players to the Reds for Cashman last offseason, and he posted a 2.01 ERA, 12.6 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and 20 saves in 31 1/3 innings with New York before heading to Chicago for a package headlined by top infield prospect Gleyber Torres. Chapman was then even more dominant for the Cubs, becoming a key part of their route to the World Series.
The Yankees finished the season with Dellin Betances as their closer, and Betances struggled in the last few weeks of the season (although, like many players who started the 2016 campaign in the Yankees’ bullpen, he had a very strong year overall. Cashman says his interest in Chapman (and, perhaps, in other top relief targets) is not closely related to Betances’ performance as closer. Rather, Cashman says he just wants to add more good players. Last year’s excellent bullpen headed by Chapman, Betances and Andrew Miller perhaps shows that it’s hard to have too much of a good thing.
“I just want to bring in more talent,” Cashman says. “It’s too early to say who’s going to do what; it depends how the winter goes. [Betances] finished the season as our closer, so until or unless I find something better — which is pretty hard to do — he would be the closer if the season started today. But it’s not.”
Cashman also says he would like to add to the Yankees’ existing rotation talent, which includes Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia alongside a long list of less established possibilities.
“I’d rather have certainty,” says Cashman. “I’d rather feel like we have one of the best rotations in the game and I’d like to have one of the best bullpens in the game. It’s going to take some time, and in some cases, some growing pains.”
“The Yankees, of course, traded four players to the Reds for Cashman last offseason”
Chapman*
Good for you to point out a meaningless typo
I was pointing it out so he could fix it.
Your priviledge is showing. Not everyone that comes to these sites are proficient enough in English to know it is a typo.
Your privilege is showing ? What a bunch of garbage. Everyone gets a free education, and maybe they should have paid attention in school. Anyone who comes out of college and spews that trash won’t last long in the real world…
LOL. Yeah cause those who DONT speak english fluently arent affected by grammatical errors when reading english. LOL guess you never went to college- if you did youd realize theres other people out there who dont speak english fluently or english is their 2nd 3rd even 4th language. Youre exactly what is wrong with this country. Narrow minded- uneductaed- and completely unaware that NON english speakers exist.
Free education doesnt apply to someone whos been speaking spanish chinese german russian arabic etc majority of their life in different countries and comes to the USA- great they get what 10-5 years depending when they enter the school system?
I think it’s meaningful because it changes the meaning. Maybe I’m nitpicking.
Nitpicking is the act of removing nits (the eggs of lice, generally head lice) from the host’s hair. You sure that is the word you are wanting to use?
It’s obvious a typo, find something to do rather than correcting a silly flaw
Who’s worse? The guy who points out a “silly typo” or the nimrod who complains about him?
You!!! For keeping it going. Keep playing with yourself
This was very impolite and I think it should be reported. Don’t be upset at someone for pointing out a very obvious typo. MLBTR should want to know these things so their content is the best it can be.
I think you should find a hobby too
He is not signing for a while. No matter how quickly Cash wants to get it done.
Thanks for those 8 outs, Aroldis.
I would hope the Cubs would at least try to lock him up otherwise move on to Jansen, you’d think that willing a championship would help persuade his interest to resign
Theo will not spend big money on a closer, is Hector can’t close, they will trade for another 1/2 year left on contract closer
With what pieces? Their well is drying up with all the promotions / past trades.
No its not. They still have attractive pieces blocked at the MLB level.
They have two top 20 prospects and two 90-100 prospects 3 of whom are blocked at the mlb level in happ jimenez and candelario.
They could part with soler and other pieces to acquire a decent closer.
Brad Ziegler is a name to watch.
What the heck man, I thought Chapman was going to extend with the Cubs for $60m? :P
When you are at the mountain peak having just won a championship, and have a roster that looks to add to that by winning multiple titles, you do not go with a Brad Ziegler type. The Cubs will wind up with either Chapman, Jansen, or Melancon. Soler + Candelario and possibly Underwood should be enough to land them a cost controlled young SP such as Archer, Gray, or Odorizzi. Montgomery could slide into the 5th SP slot, but with Wood likely gone, Monty will be the lefty specialist and also a spot starter. Happ and Jimenez are not due to arrive until 2019-ish, and will likely replace Zo and JHey, so those prospects aren’t going anywhere.
Soler and prospect for David Robertson of Chicago white sox?
Your dreaming the rays wouldn’t budge off of Baez or schwarber
The Cubs could make a play for Robertson, but if the Cubs are taking on the balance of his salary then there’s no way they’re giving up anything of much value.
honestly, after seeing just how hittable he looked even when he could ‘only’ manage 98, i’d be very wary of signing him to a long term deal if i was a GM.
His declining will likely come fast and hard whenever it starts, and i’d hate to be the one on the hook to pay for it..
it begins, Yankees connected to every overpriced free agent.
they won’t be signing a lot of free agents
Yeah like last year when they spent a grand total of $0 on free agents to Major League deals, tying every single commenter on here,
When its Cashman saying it, maybe it means the Yankees are ready to spend again.
The Cubs stretched him out during the playoffs, so now he might be able to be starter again like he was in the WBC.
uh, no.
You need to go back and learn the meaning of “stretching out ” a pitcher before posting
I was joking.
Wonder if they’ll sign him again only to trade him to a contender for more big prospects. Funny, bold, smart, and sad. Could be a new pattern in major signings…I know it’s not a new concept, but I don’t think it’s been done quite to this extent if it does in fact happen.
Well in Miller’s case it worked because he was signed to such an affordable deal. And Chapman only had a half year left. It might be a trend with some players, but this year it won’t be the case with Chapman. He is getting 3-4 years, $20 mil a year. Very few teams if any, would take that on.
If the right offer was there, the Yankees would eat his salary given their wealth, but the other commentator does have a point in that there would probably be a no-trade clause. Either way, whether it happened or not, it’s interesting to think about.
If the Yankees don’t offer him the most money now they’re not going to trade for him and his contract later. And he won’t need a no-trade clause because he’s likely going to sign with whoever offers him the most money so no one will want to trade for him in the first place.
I wasn’t suggesting that they would trade for him.
It’s not a new pattern nor will it ever be, the contract he was under was the initial one signed by the Reds. Major signees get no trade clauses.
Chapman’s new deal will include either a no-trade clause or a few million more per year than the second best offer to compensate for not having one.
The contract Chapman is about to get is not going to make him an attractive trade chip
Thanks for the Ring. Hope the Cubs would try to resign him but he is going to get a lot of money.
I didn’t think you could speak to other teams free agents yet, either with or without a QO?
Chapman is ineligible for the QO He didn’t spend the entire season with one team.
You can 5 days after the last World Series game has ended
It’s too bad Jansen costs a pick, I’d much rather have him than Chapman.
Hey there’s my boy Cashman.
Yankees would overpay, but for good reason. They need relief pitching, Chapman does not cost a draft pick but they’ll probably offer a four year deal.
The Cubs set the template for trades. You load up your roster with talent doesn’t matter if they are young or older. Wait for the trade deadline. Sell off said players for draft picks and international money. And build like that