Aroldis Chapman’s time with the New York Yankees came to an unceremonious end, and he would like an apology from general manager Brian Cashman if he was ever going to pitch for the team in the future.
“What happened, happened,” the Boston Red Sox closer said when discussing the potential of being traded to the Yankees, per ESPN’s Enrique Rojas. “If something like this were to happen, I believe someone from this organization should apologize first.”
He also said “yes” when asked if Cashman was that “someone.”
Chapman is one of the most obvious trade candidates of the season, as he has a mutual option for 2027 on his contract before free agency. Boston is in last place in the American League East at 27-39 and could get something of significant value for the closer in an effort to accelerate a rebuild.
“Every day you see social media and also people in the press talking and commenting about it,” Chapman said when discussing the trade rumors. “… I have no control. At the end of the day, I have no control over that, and I’m just focusing on being able to play, even though I’m not playing much right now. But I’m trying to focus on that, on trying to get the job done when it’s my turn.”
While it would be anything but surprising if he was traded, it would be a shock if he was traded to the Yankees.
After all, Boston and New York are massive rivals, and both teams would surely hesitate to trade with the other out of fear it could make a difference in the current or a future pennant push.
There is also Chapman’s history with the Bronx Bombers.
He split the 2016 season with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs and then returned to New York from 2017 through 2022. As Rojas explained, the 2022 season was a disappointing one to say the least.
He posted a 4.46 ERA, suffered a left leg infection due to a tattoo, was removed from the closer position and even didn’t make the playoff roster because he missed a mandatory team practice. Chapman said he was given permission to miss the practice, while Cashman said it was insubordination.
It clearly left a bad taste in the closer’s mouth, and he wants an apology if he was ever going to return.
