There’s no denying that former Yankees closer is among the most skilled relievers in baseball. The powerful left-hander spent part of seven seasons in New York, where he compiled a 24-14 record, a 2.94 ERA, 453 strikeouts, and 153 saves across 315 appearances.
In 2016, Chapman became the first player to face disciplinary action under Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy following allegations of domestic violence. He was suspended for 30 games and faced significant criticism from fans due to these accusations.
Despite these off-field issues, Chapman has remained a top reliever in the sport. At 36 years old, he is currently playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with 6 saves and a 4.00 ERA this season.
With the Yankees struggling with their current bullpen, a Bleacher Report article by Kerry Miller on September 8 suggested that New York might be interested in reuniting with Chapman. Miller proposed that trading Chapman could be beneficial for the Pirates, despite it saving them only about $1.3 million, a sum that is more than what many of their players earn.
Miller noted that while Chapman struggled with walks earlier in the season (32 BB in 32.2 innings), he has improved significantly recently, issuing just five walks in his last 20 innings, with a 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a 6.0 K/BB ratio.
Given the Yankees’ bullpen challenges, a reunion with Chapman could be a tempting option for them as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Even though his peak years may be behind him, the Yankees might see value in bringing back their former closer to strengthen their bullpen.
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