📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE

Aroldis Chapman compares Yankees to champion Cubs

After missing the first 30 games of the 2016 season due to violating Major League Baseball’s policy on domestic violence, Aroldis Chapman made an immediate positive impact for the Yankees, forming the final piece of what became known as “No Runs DMC”.

Along with fellow all-stars Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, Chapman posted a 3-0 record, converting 20 out of 21 saves, and owned a 2.01 ERA before being traded to the Cubs at the deadline.

The Cubs considered Chapman to be the missing piece for them on their quest to end their 108-year World Series drought. The move certainly paid off for them, despite the steep price they paid to essentially rent Chapman’s services.

Cashman made Chapman his top offseason priority, signing the all-star lefty to a five-year, $86 million deal – the largest ever given to a reliever.

According to Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch, Chapman told his agent his priority was coming back to the Yankees because he enjoyed it in the Bronx from day one.

In speaking with Hoch through an interpreter, Chapman made it clear he feels that this Yankees team holds a lot of similarities to what the Cubs had been building toward for years.

“Chicago started doing the same thing, bringing young players in the beginning, combined with veterans,” Chapman said. “It worked for them, and it’s a solid team. The Yankees are similar in that way. They’re trying to bring in some youth, athletes that are very gifted.

“I think this is something that they can move on to accomplish because of the level of talent that they have. One of the things that can be key is the unity of the team. The Yankees can do that, too.”

“I’ve seen a lot of teams do this,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “We just saw it happen with Chicago. It’s something very impressive that they’re following this youth movement. Houston is another team that you see them getting young guys. It’s something good, and this is going to be a very good team.”

As a member of both teams last season, Chapman certainly has an educated insight on how both rosters shape up and compare. He firmly believes he has rejoined a very good ball club that can compete for a title very soon.

 

 

Follow me on Twitter, @JaredSaul