The Aroldis Chapman Trade Is Not Unethical of Yankees

The news of the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, the flame-throwing All-Star from Cincinnati, was likely a bit bitter-sweet for most Yankees fans. On the one hand, Chapman, combined with the duo of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, completes a Yankees bullpen that is thrillingly unprecedented. Yet at the same time, the accusations of domestic violence cast a dark cloud over that excitement.

But some have taken it further, arguing that the Yankees entered an ethical gray area by bringing Chapman aboard. That criticism climbed high up the ladder on Tuesday, when Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Speaker of the New York City Council, said she was “very disturbed” by the trade.

When evaluating the ethics of the Yankees’ decision, it’s first important to note that Chapman has only been accused of domestic violence. He has not been charged nor arrested. As far as the legal system and Major League Baseball is concerned, Chapman is innocent, at least for now.

Still, the accusations carry some weight, and Chapman did admit to firing shots in his garage during an altercation with his wife. But what exactly would it have accomplished if Chapman remained in Cincinnati? Either way, he is slated to make about $13 million next season. Either way, he is under investigation by both the local prosecutor and MLB, and will be disciplined by both entities as they see fit.

If critics are arguing that the Yankees are inherently rewarding Chapman by bringing him to New York, then they are in effect asking for another layer of punishment. But since when is it the job of the Yankees to play prosecutor? The rules are clearly laid out. The Commissioner will decide if Chapman should be disciplined, as will the local prosecutor. The Yankees accept that. If you’re asking for more punishment, you ought to take up the issue with the judicial system or MLB’s new domestic violence policy, not the Yankees.

There’s a reason disciplinary policies are so clearly laid out. Without clear lines between the enforcers––MLB and the legal system––and the teams, you create a nebulous standard that can never be practical. Did the Yankees act wrongfully in keeping Alex Rodriguez after he served his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs? You may say yes, but as far as the league and the justice system is concerned, he served his time and moved on. If the league or the local prosecutor finds it necessary, Chapman will do the same.

Ultimately, critics hold the Yankees to an inappropriately high standard. There’s no question that domestic violence is a serious issue that baseball ought to tackle head-on, and that privileged athletes such as Chapman should be held to an even higher standard than the general public. But he is already facing possible disciplinary from both the local prosecutor and the league. Further, to those who say the Yankees took advantage of Chapman’s situation in order to pay a lower price, since when is that wrong? If you bought real estate during the financial crisis and cashed out years later, were you taking advantage of the recession, or were you just acting rationally? Indeed, the Yankees have coveted Chapman for some time now––do critics believe they should have paid a higher price just to make a point?

If the multiple investigations against Chapman find that he engaged in the behavior he has been accused of, then of course he should be suspended. The Yankees front office won’t fight that, and neither will the fans. Our justice system and MLB’s domestic violence policy are up to the task. Yankees fans should not feel guilty in their excitement.

The Aroldis Chapman Trade Is Not Unethical of Yankees

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