Ex-Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman reaches deal with Pittsburgh Pirates
Aroldis Chapman is the latest beneficiary of an active bullpen market, as the former Yankees closer reportedly has a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s a one-year, $10.5 million contract for the left-handed Chapman, according to multiple reports, including one by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
The hard-throwing Chapman, who turns 36 next month, recorded a 3.09 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 58.1 innings with the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, operating as a set-up man during the latter’s World Series run.
Chapman joins a Pittsburgh bullpen featuring one of baseball’s better closers in David Bednar, a two-time All-Star who last season pitched to a 2.00 ERA and tied for the National League lead with 39 saves.
The Pirates hope to contend in 2024 after going 76-86 last season, despite beginning the year 20-8.
“We have a clear mind about what’s next and that it’s not easy and not supposed to be easy,” general manager Ben Cherington said in October. “We just all need to do our jobs really well.”
The Yankees originally acquired Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds before the 2016 season, which the reliever began by serving a 30-game suspension due to a domestic violence allegation.
New York traded the closer to the eventual World Series champion Cubs later that season in a deal that brought back then-prospect Gleyber Torres, then re-signed Chapman to a five-year, $85 million contract during the following offseason.
Chapman tallied 153 saves, a 2.94 ERA and 453 strikeouts in 294.1 innings over his two stints with the Yankees, which spanned seven seasons. He pitched to a 4.46 ERA in 2022, his final year with the Yankees, and did not make their ALDS roster that postseason after missing a workout.
Chapman’s sinker averaged 101.1 miles per hour last season, though his 14.5% walk rate was among the worst in baseball.
He represents the latest big-name reliever to find a deal in recent days, following star closer Josh Hader, who reached a five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros on Friday, and Robert Stephenson, who agreed to a three-year, $33 million pact with the Los Angeles Angels this week, according to ESPN.
Notable relievers remaining on the free-agent market include Wandy Peralta, who spent the past three seasons with the Yankees, and Hector Neris, who pitched to a 1.71 ERA over 68.1 innings with the Astros in 2023.
