Before the 2016 trade deadline, the back end of the Yankees bullpen was one for the ages. With Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, Joe Girardi was basically managing a six inning game.
According to John Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Yankees are planning to bolster their bullpen again for 2017 by going after either Chapman or Kenley Jansen on the free agent market.
Chapman seemed to enjoy his time in New York, and made it clear that he’d be open to a reunion in the winter. The 28-year-old fireballer compiled 36 saves and a 1.55 ERA between the Bronx and Chicago. It’s expected that Chapman will command record money for a closer, so he won’t come cheap.
Jansen, 29, is less known on the east coast, but he’s considered to be one of the best closers in the game. Standing at 6’5″, 270 pounds, Jansen is an imposing figure with a devastating cutter from the right side. He turned in the best year of his seven year career in 2016, notching 47 saves and throwing to a 1.83 ERA. Over the last two years, Jansen owns a 9.68 SO/BB ratio.
If the Yankees acquire either closer, Betances would likely move back to the eighth inning where he’s been more comfortable.
