Yankees: 3 Aroldis Chapman trades Brian Cashman needs to explore immediately

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees walks off the field after retiring the side against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in Game Four of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 08, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees walks off the field after retiring the side against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in Game Four of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 08, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers will likely need a legitimate closer after Kenley Jansen’s demise. The Yankees can help.

The Dodgers have a lot of money coming off the books the next couple of offseasons, so adding another high-priced reliever wouldn’t be that prohibitive. Kenley Jansen is making $20 million, but it’s clear he can no longer be the team’s closer. Bring in Chapman, move Jansen down, and sport one of the best 7-8-9-inning punches in the MLB.

Joe Kelly hasn’t exactly been working out for LA, so maybe he goes back to New York in this deal along with someone like pitching prospect Brett de Geus? Maybe that could work? Getting rid of Kelly’s salary (nearly $9 million) could help, especially after the addition of Brusdar Graterol has proven to be a success.

This Dodgers team is built for both the immediate future and the long term, but their window with Clayton Kershaw continues to slowly close. He’ll be a free agent after 2021 and it’s unclear if he’ll be back for much longer after that. LA has a great outlook with their starting rotation moving forward and their lineup is unstoppable. The bullpen is the only question mark.

Adding Chapman, who owns a 2.54 ERA during his tenure with the Yankees, would really help the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts. Their decision-making late in close games would be solved and there wouldn’t have to be any more bouncing around to determine who is best fit to shut the door.

Chapman can still be that guy for a few more years and his contract lines up perfectly with the Dodgers’ premium championship window. A couple extra bucks for LA won’t hurt a franchise that prints money.