Yankees 2017 MVP and the rest of their regular season awards
By Cory Claus
Yankees Best Reliever
This had four competitors, but only two real possible winners.
Runners-Up
Aroldis Chapman
WAR: 0.7
With his up and down season, punctuated by moments when it seemed like he might never find his way back, Chapman could not win this award. But he recently regained his mojo and returned to form, and that is as one of the two or three best closers in the game.
He might still be key to the Yankees winning in the playoffs but this is about what he has done so far. And so far he’s been…okay. Chappy has only pitched in 48 games and closed 38 times; 20 saves is not what the Yankees are paying him for.
His indicators are excellent—37 hits in 46 IP with 65 strikeouts—but it has still been a down year for Aroldis.
Dellin Betances
WAR: 1.4
Speaking of down years, Betances is still trying to bounce back. But like Chapman, even a bad statistical season for Dellin is filled with impressive numbers.
His ERA (3.02) and WHIP (1.253) could and should be better, but there’s nothing wrong about throwing 56.2 innings, surrendering 28 hits, but striking out 98. As always, Betances was able to close, and so saved ten games among his 62 appearances.
Still, the Yankees would probably not be making the playoffs if Betances had been their best reliever. It was down to two, and the first runner-up is…