Brian Cashman Weighs In On Yankees Signing Aroldis Chapman

Tuesday is the first day MLB teams can speak with free agents. It is widely believed that the Yankees will reach out to their ex-closer Aroldis Chapman.

For the first time in his career, Aroldis Chapman is a world champion. Much of the Cubs’ success can be attributed to the flame-throwing Cuban, whom they acquired from the Yankees at the non-waver trade deadline.

In 13 appearances, Chapman pitched 15.2 innings while going 2-0 with 21 strikeouts, a 1.09 WHIP and four huge saves. Skeptics are quick to point out the blown save against the Indians in Game 7 of the World Series could be a sign of things to come, but you have to attribute much of that to sheer exhaustion, as Chapman threw close to 50 pitches in Game 6, just one day prior.

On Thursday night at an ALS benefit in Manhattan, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman was asked about a possible reunion with the 28-year-old closer.

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“We’re going to go through everything,” Cashman said. “We’ve had our pro scouting meetings. I would just tell you the areas we’d like to focus on clearly are pitching, bullpen and starting pitching. If the winds of change come in, we will pursue [trades]. I have engaged every team but the last two standing. All clubs know we are open-minded and aggressive. We are open to any idea that serves us. We will see where it takes us.”

The beauty about the Yankees making a pitch for Chapman is that since he was recently traded in season, the Cubs are unable to offer him the $17.2M qualifying offer — meaning that whoever were to sign him wouldn’t have to forfeit a first-round draft pick in return.

The same goes for Mark Melancon, whom the Nationals acquired from the Pirates in late July. Kenley Jansen can and will receive the dreaded QO from the Dodgers, even though most baseball officials expect him to stay in Los Angeles for between $15-18M per season.

So money is basically what will come down to the Yankees potentially signing Chapman as Plan A and Melancon as Plan B.

Next: Important Questions About the 2017 Yankees

If Chapman were to leave the reigning World Series champions, you can bet it’s because someone makes him the highest paid closer in baseball history — more than the 4-year, $50M deal the Phillies gave Jonathan Papelbon back in 2012.