NL West teams doing Yankees a favor in Aroldis Chapman chase

Wondering when and where Aroldis Chapman will be signing this offseason, New York Yankees fans? Truth be told, as long as it’s far away from the Bronx Bombers, nobody really cares. Most would prefer if it was the absolute farthest possible destination.

And boy, do we have a good update for you, as the free agency cycle has quieted down and the trade market has remained dead. Geographically, Chapman’s next move is expected to be as far away from New York as possible, as it pertains to MLB.

Per Carlos Baerga, who just broke the Red Sox-Rafael Devers monster contract extension news as well as the Mets-Justin Verlander agreement, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have made offers to the left-hander. We’ll pay for the outgoing flight!

Chapman overstayed his welcome with the Yankees for about three years. Most fans were done with him after he surrendered the season-ending home run to Jose Altuve in the 2019 ALCS. But the Yankees brought him back for a THIRD time. Third!

His final three years with the team were, consecutively, the worst of his entire MLB career. That tenure officially came to an end when a tattoo infection derailed the end of his 2022 season, followed by manager Aaron Boone leaving him off the ALDS roster because Chapman wouldn’t show up for workouts unless he was guaranteed a spot on the team for the postseason.

Yankees Rumors: Aroldis Chapman drawing interest from Dodgers and Padres

After hearing nothing on the Chapman front this offseason, the Dodgers-Padres buzz is a breath of fresh air, because Yankees fans were worried a reunion could’ve been possible had nobody expressed interest/Brian Cashman figured he could retain Chapman on the cheap.

But now that the Yankees are pressed up against the Steve Cohen luxury tax threshold and Chapman has multiple two-year offers on the table, consider the former closer’s days in New York finito.

It’s like we’re up five runs in the ninth inning of the series-clinching game. Start getting the champagne ready, but don’t pop a single bottle until it’s official.

The Yankees bullpen might not be solidified, but it’s certainly better off without Chapman, who was the source of far more pain than success. His overall numbers in New York, on paper, were great, but hidden behind the 2.94 ERA, 2.89 FIP and 453 strikeouts across 294.1 innings was unimaginable heartbreak that any fan outside of New York simply cannot understand.

To Dodgers and Padres fans, he’s likely your problem now. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Is anybody going to sign Aroldis Chapman away from Yankees?

Will any other MLB team take Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees' clutches in free agency? Because we're, uh, still waiting.