Aroldis Chapman may be the best pitcher in the Boston Red Sox bullpen, but there was a time he was helping their most hated rival. From 2016 to 2022, Chapman spent most of that time being the main weapon of the New York Yankees bullpen. Sure, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs at the 2016 deadline, but he resigned with the Yankees in the offseason. Over 315 appearances with the Yankees, he had a 2.94 ERA over 294 1/3 innings with 453 strikeouts to 153 walks, a 1.148 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 147.
But it does not appear that Chapman has much nostalgia for his time in the Bronx. In a recent interview with ESPN Deportes, he had this to say about his departure from his former club. “What happened, happened. If something like this were to happen, I believe someone from this organization should apologize first.” When asked if that someone was Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, he said yes. But what caused these comments, and how could it evolve over the rest of the season?
This is Not The Last Time We’ll Hear About Aroldis Chapman’s comments
The stats may say that Chapman was successful with the Yankees, but that was not the case in his final season. During the 2022 season, he pitched only 36 1/3 innings, posting a 4.46 ERA with 43 strikeouts to 28 walks, a 1.431 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 89. He struggled so much that he lost the closer job to Clay Holmes. To make these struggles worse was the fact that Chapman was dealing with a left leg infection. All of this caused him to be left off the Yankees’ playoff roster.
With Chapman not on the postseason roster, he decided to go to Miami. He claims he asked the organization beforehand and was given permission to go on the trip. But his absence from the mandatory workout before the ALDS was not a good look in the eyes of manager Aaron Boone and Cashman. Boone blasted him in the media, saying it was unacceptable, and Cashman fined him. We’ll never know whether Chapman had permission from the Yankees, but the way they handled the matter upset him.
This bad blood between Chapman and the Yankees is exactly what the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry needs. Despite Chapman’s success this season, the Red Sox have struggled. They are 27-39, good for last in the AL East, and are six games out of the last wild card spot. With the Yankees sitting comfortably in the first wild card spot, these two teams are going in different directions. Their games would have been meaningless. But these comments give Red Sox fans some ammo and give them some stakes in wanting Chapman to stick it to them.
This should also make American League contenders more willing to trade for him. Chapman was already expected to be the best closer on the market. But knowing he has an ax to grind against the Yankees makes him even more valuable. It’s very likely the AL will run through the Bronx this season. If you’re a team that will have to face the Yankees to get to the World Series, why not add someone who has something to prove against them? It will give him extra motivation and potentially make him pitch better.
This story feels like the beginning of a narrative that will follow Chapman all season. If he matches up against the Yankees in a big regular or postseason game, everyone will remember these comments and how he feels about them.
