Yankees Rumors: Chapman and Jansen Close to Making Their Decisions?

The New York Yankees have contract offers out to closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen, and rumors suggest both players could make a decision in the near future.

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, there is “an increasing sense among teams in the elite closer market that Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman could be close to decisions.” On Tuesday, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to Pete Caldera of the Bergen County Record that the club had made offers to both relievers, quipping, “It would be nice if someone picks us at some point. If not, we’ll adjust.”

Cashman seems to indicate that the team has had their offers spurned by multiple free agents thus far at the Winter Meetings. They were known to be in on starting pitcher Rich Hill and former Yankee Carlos Beltran before those guys signed, and David Lennon of Newsday also reported Wednesday that New York did have trade discussions with the White Sox regarding Chris Sale before the ace was shipped to Boston.

With just two days of the Winter Meetings remaining, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reports that the Yankees are “going hard” after Chapman. However, at the moment at least, it appears they are not the highest bidder for him, as the $92 million offer that Bob Nightengale hears he has in hand did not come from New York.

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Other teams in the mix for Chapman and Jansen include the Nationals, Marlins, and Dodgers. If the pair signs elsewhere, the Yankees could turn their attention to cheaper free agent options like Brad Ziegler or Greg Holland, both of whom would likely require only a one or two year contracts because of age and injury concerns respectively.

If New York decides to add a closer via trade, former Yankee David Robertson could be their top target. The two years and $26 million remaining on his deal are comparatively reasonable by current free agent standards. Wade Davis was another trade candidate, but is now off the table after being sent to the Cubs for Jorge Soler.

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Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media says the Yankees aren’t expected to pursue other moves until they resolve their closer situation, so hopefully Chapman and/or Jansen make a decision shortly.