While Aroldis Chapman’s departure from the Yankees may have been contentious, he appeared to keep the door open for a potential return to New York, this time with the Mets.
According to a report by Andy Martino of SNY on Wednesday, discussions between the Mets and Chapman regarding a contract in the ballpark of $8 million were underway before Chapman ultimately opted for a $10.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chapman, who hails from Cuba, would have been positioned as the setup man alongside closer Edwin Díaz, forming a formidable duo for closing out games.
During his tenure with the Yankees spanning seven seasons, Chapman amassed 315 appearances, tallying a 2.94 ERA with 153 saves and an impressive 453 strikeouts over 294 1/3 innings (equating to 13.9 SO/9). However, his time in the Bronx concluded unfavorably.
Following his absence from a mandatory workout ahead of the 2022 American League Division Series against the Guardians, Chapman was instructed by manager Aaron Boone to remain in Miami, effectively ending any chance of the then-34-year-old reliever making the team’s postseason roster.
In 2023, Chapman commenced the season with the Royals under a one-year contract valued at $3.75 million. He enjoyed a notable first half, boasting a 2.45 ERA with 53 strikeouts across 31 appearances spanning 29 1/3 innings. Subsequently, he was traded to the Rangers, where he teamed up with former Mets pitcher Max Scherzer to aid Texas in clinching their maiden World Series title.
In the current season, Chapman, now with the Pirates, aims to demonstrate his prowess once more as a valuable bullpen asset, potentially positioning himself for a trade to a contender at the trade deadline.
Chapman, a seven-time All-Star, earned the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award during his tenure with the Yankees in 2019. His career stats boast a remarkable 2.53 ERA with 321 saves and an impressive 1,148 strikeouts across 698 1/3 innings. Notably, his 14.8 SO/9 stands as the highest among relievers with a minimum of 500 innings pitched since 2010.
Leave a Reply