Not even a full season into signing a five-year, $86MM contract – a record deal for a reliever – Aroldis Chapman is out as the Yankees’ closer, manager Joe Girardi announced Saturday, per Erik Boland of Newsday (Twitter link). The move isn’t necessarily permanent, however, but a measure to “try and get him right,” said Girardi, who revealed that Chapman reacted well to the news. One of the most dominant relievers of all-time, the 29-year-old flamethower hasn’t been himself this season, as his pedestrian ERA (4.29), plummeting strikeout percentage and falling swinging-strike rate indicate. Chapman’s also amid arguably the worst stretch of his illustrious career, one in which he has yielded two earned runs in three straight appearances for the first time, and made a couple mental errors in the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox on Friday. Chapman was responsible for a double steal when he neglected to keep tabs on the Red Sox’s runners on first and second base, and he then failed to back up home plate on a two-run single by Jackie Bradley Jr. Those slip-ups led to an animated mound visit from Girardi, who figures to turn to David Robertson and Dellin Betances as his ninth-inning choices while Chapman attempts to overcome his struggles in a different role. (Follow @CloserNews, MLBTR’s sister Twitter site, for more on the Yankees’ late-game configuration and news about all ninth-inning situations around the majors.)
A bit more on the Yankees, who will try to avoid falling six games behind Chris Sale-led Boston for the AL East lead on Saturday:
- It was either the Yankees or the Orioles who claimed right-hander Marco Estrada off waivers from the division-rival Blue Jays earlier this week, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Regardless, Estrada isn’t going anywhere because the Jays were unable to agree to a trade with the claiming team within the 48-hour window.
- Estrada would’ve been a quality reinforcement for the Yankees’ rotation (or Baltimore’s), but the Bombers will get some in-house help on that front. Masahiro Tanaka, on the disabled list since last Saturday with shoulder inflammation, is set to make his return Tuesday against Detroit, Girardi informed reporters (Twitter link via Boland). Rotation mate C.C. Sabathia will come off the 10-day DL and start in Boston tonight. Friday’s starter, rookie Jordan Montgomery, is headed back to Triple-A to make room for Sabathia, the team announced.
Yet another example of why you should never sign a closer to a long term deal. So many examples of this being a bad idea. B.J. Ryan, anyone?
So far Melancon is the only disaster from last offseason. Chapman is still up in the air but a rest and his 100 + fastball coming back could turn things around quickly
Yeah and look at Jansen, don’t think there a Dodger fan out there that isn’t thrilled to him him.
The Dodgers would have a 10 game division lead with me as a closer. Jansen is good, but it’s not like they would fall apart without him.
No because you would’ve been DFA’d after 1 or 2 appearances. Jansen is the best closer in baseball right now. Your original comment was about never signing a closer to a long term deal and then only mention BJ Ryan. How about Jansen and Kimbrel?
Really? A look at Melancon and Chapman’s 2017 stats would argue that Chapman’s the bigger disaster. Higher ERA and WHIP, less than half the BB/SO ratio. At least Melancon has an injury, we don’t know what’s wrong with Chapman.
Chapman is 3 years younger and has better stuff than melancon. Melancon is 32 and relys on contact which will cause a quicker decline.
Or a look at their comparisons would show that Melancon hasn’t even been available for 2/3 of the time Chapman has. If they’re being paid I’d at least like to have them available and as options.
Chapman has a hamstring issue. It’s hurting his mechanics.
Chapman relies on his speed, so I’d imagine a quicker fall off for him (to the degree that relievers are predictable). He also was a year and $24 mil more expensive. Melancon has overall been a better pitcher when he’s pitched, but I doubt the Giants are in a hurry with him as they’re not contending.
Small sample, all pitchers are outlier!
Boston has spanked Chapman silly. Post season w Cubs has probably played a part in his demise.
I don’t know if that’s necessarily the reason why he hasn’t been himself, but you raise a good point…he was worked HARD by the Cubs down the stretch
They probably knew they weren’t resigning him. Let it loose for 3 months
Chapman will be back as a shutdown closer. He needs a rest. He stuff is still way to good. He’ll find his way back in time for October if the Yankees are in it. I agree that contract is too long and the AAV is to high, but baring injury or overuse, Chapman has many more years of elite closing left in him. It sounds like tired arm to me.
Also, Chapman has an opt out after 3. If he has a bounce back, he may test the waters. Look at Tanaka, if he opts out (and he has been up and down this year), anything is possible…
Why wouldn’t the Jays trade Estrada? I would have loved to been a fly on the wall for that conversation. He is declining quickly. He may a few good starts left in him but as predicted in these pages in spring training, he was going to take a major step back this year and it another step back next year. I am not saying he is done, but my scouting eyes say he is in decline or injured. His back or core doesn’t seem to have the strength to control his upper half and his control is way off compared to last year over many consecutive starts. Why keep him? The Jays are going no-where this year or next barring significant upgrades. I suggest don’t drink any kool-aid that says otherwise.
Because Estrada’s value is at an all time low. They wouldn’t get back any worthwhile prospects back in any deal. He’s still under team control in 2018 so he has a chance to rebuild his trade value.
Estrada is a UFA at the end of this year. He is not under Blue Jays team control for 2018. Trading him now is a good idea regardless of the return.
Agreed 100%, Estrada for anything is a good move right now. If you love him that much, go re-sign him in the offseason when he’s available again.
He was sub par for half of last season too. He had back issues and his season tanked. Issues either aren’t solved or he’s returned to what he actually is. Jays fans think he’s an elite #2 because he topped as a really good number 2. But his norms show he isn’t.
You keep mentioning your “scouting background”. My brother was a scout too. Maybe you and he were in the same troop?
Bahahahahahaha. Made me laugh. Thanks. Scouting references are real btw. I still have my Mtwins recruitment letter and MLB Scouting Bureau cap – had to throw the MLB T-shirt out, wore it too much..
Send your vitae to the Astros. They have eight new openings.
Giving Estrada away for nothing (which is likely what they would get for him) does not improve the organization in any way. Actual baseball people (Not guys who pretend to be scouts on the internet) must believe he is still capable of winning games, hence the claim.. So I ask, why trade him for nothing? How is giving him away going to improve the organization? Its not like his contract is toxic, or he is blocking the way of some young stud pitcher. Their rotation is stretched thin as it is, and there are no competent replacements.. Trading Estrada does the team no good at all IMO.
You seem to be assuming Estrada has no trade value. He does have trade value. Perhaps I should clarify, I would give him away for virutally nothing means get a low level very good prospect for him – that improves the organization. Is that trade available? Yes, I have knowledge that it and more was offered already to the Jays and that deal was turned down. The only reason that gets turned down is that Mgmt believes that the team has a chance to make the playoffs this year or wants the fans to believe that nonsense. This team is not winning anything this year or next year barring major upgrades, so trade Estrada now.
Don’t most players tank after signing the huge contract?
Trout has been “decent” since his extension. And Cano has performed–his contract will eventually be an overpay, but so far
Trout has a 5.7 WAR. U hope the “decent” thing was sarcasm.
Had to be sarcasm. As Buck Martinez says, “Trout is Mickey Mantle good” I would trade half the Blue Jays to acquire him. In fact, the Angels won’t listen or talk about Trout in trades. True.
All long-term contracts are overpays. Players are paid for what they’ve done, not what they’re going to do. They’re underpaid when young, overpaid when old. It generally evens out.
Happens plenty often but I’d say the market in which they play has something to do with it as well.
No, not “most”
Giancarlo Stanton, in possession of MLB’s richest contract, is having a career year with the Marlins.
And the previous holder of that title, Alex Rodriguez, was a PED user.
Of the top 10 richest contracts of all time:
1) Stanton is young and will probably be a decent contract.
2) Arod dropped off but everyone knew that would happens so the contract was more about the home run record publicity, so fail.
3) ARod again, gotta think it was good for the yankees.
4) Miguel Cabrera, gotta call this a win.
5) Albert Pujols, production wise a loss but the Angels got a big tv contract because of this, so depends how you see it.
6) Robinson Cano, minor drop off which will probably continue so probably fail.
7) Joey Votto, still doing good so win.
8) David Price, likely fail.
9) Clayton Kershaw, easy win.
10) Prince Fielder, fail.
So out of only the top 10 contracts, 5 that didn’t/won’t live up to production value but if you see Pujols as a money move alone then it’s a good contract. So take that for what it’s worth.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see the Yanks try out Chapman as a starter next spring. He was effective as a starter before the Reds made him their closer. He has the frame to handle the workload. With Robertson, Betances, Kahnle, Warren, and Shreve all back next year, the bullpen would be well stocked even without Chapman in it. Chapman could replace Sabathia’s spot in the rotation next year.
I don’t think he had the stamina to be a starter
That is an idea that I never envisioned.
So he can’t last one inning and they will make him try 7 as a starter ????
I would be shocked if he is tried as a starter according to Fangraphs he never started for the Reds always relieved and the last time he really tried to start was in 2010 at AAA and they made him a reliever because of it.
Yea you’re right..not even worth responding to that guy…
Yer funny but I don’t think he ever starts. On the record as not wanting to start. And almost as important, not paid enough to start. He signed an elite closer contract.
That’s what was saying!
*I
I don’t think he’ll be transitioned but I recall him insisting on starting until he tried closing. Was opposed to relief otherwise. Back with the Reds anyway.
And now starting on team nowhere, Daniel Bard.
Does this and the Melancon news make the Nationals feel a little better about not landing a closer over the winter?
This is a pretty great comment. That’s rare here. Yeah, all the hand wringing over the Nats bullpen has been for naught. They reinforced it for the playoffs. It didn’t matter, and often doesn’t, during the six month grind.
Mets and the rest of their division is a bust!
We’ll all find out soon enough just how “reinforced” the Nats bullpen is during the postseason. I’d bet they would be thrilled to swap their pen for the Yankees right now before the playoffs begin. On paper at least, the Nationals bullpen is no match to those of the Dodgers and Cubs.
True — tho the Cubs bullpen has been mediocre at best the last month or two.
Yes, a by-product of the Cubs poor starting pitching in the first half as well as Joe Maddon’s incessant micro-managing of the pitching staff. Now that Mike Montgomery has been “forced” to the rotation to replace Jon Lester for at least two starts things might get even worse in regards to the bullpen being overused. Montgomery isn’t sufficiently stretched out to pitch more than 5 innings tops which will tax the bullpen when he takes the mound. Montgomery will also be missed in the pen with recently acquired southpaw Justin Wilson struggling and the fact that he had given the Cubs multiple innings in relief which most of the other relievers can’t do. Montgomery was this year’s version of Travis Wood.
Btw-My comment had also stated the Cubs bullpen is better than the Nats “on paper” which comes with a big asterisk with “Genius” Joe in charge.
So do we factor in the cost of Chapman’s contract into the Torres-Chapman trade? A damaged Chapman surely changes the perspective on that trade.
How the mighty have fallen. Aroldis Chapman, out for now as Yankee closer, makes that trade with the White Sox for David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle even more essential. Meanwhile, Chapman becomes MLB’s most expensive setup man.
I would invite all the “Negative Nancy’s” on this site to follow-up on all the thumbs down comments they seem to give me and others who make compelling arguments.
In my mind, anyone who leaves such a mark without a comment reply is cowardly or bent on extracting some sort of vindication from previous debates. Man-up!
Gave your first comment a thumbs up, your second gets a thumbs down for whining.
That’s fine. At least you were “man enough” to leave the comment reply I was asking for to begin with. lol
Out of these 3 at present David Robertson is the best pitcher, and more than likely he’s the best closer. Chapman 7 Betances 8 Roberston 9.