The Cuban Missile is back in the Bronx.
Aroldis Chapman and the Yankees have agreed to a five-year, $86MM deal, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The club has not confirmed.
BREAKING: Chapman to #Yankees, five years, $86M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2016
Chapman, 28, receives the largest contract ever given out to a closer. The deal surpasses the four-year, $62MM contract the Giants handed to Mark Melancon earlier in the week.
Chapman had expressed interest in returning to the Yankees ever since departing in the trade with the Chicago Cubs over the summer. GM Brian Cashman also made it known that Chapman would be a number one priority for the organization, mostly because he had no compensation draft pick associated with him and they know he can handle pitching in New York.
There were rumors that Chapman had wanted upwards of $100MM, but he said earlier this week those demands were not true. Marly Rivera of ESPN reports there is a no-trade clause for three years. Also, Chapman cannot be traded to a team on the West Coast as part of the deal.
Chapman also has a three-year opt-out.
Source: Chapman deal includes three-year opt-out, full no-trade for first three years, limited no-trade for final two.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2016
Chapman is set to reclaim the ninth inning, moving Dellin Betances to the eighth where he seems more comfortable.
Also according to Rivera, Chapman said he was deciding between the Marlins and the Yankees before ultimately choosing the Bronx. Here’s his full statement:
“I love the (Yankees) organization. They welcomed me with open arms and that’s why I decided to go back, I was hoping I had a chance to go back and it happened,” Chapman said. “Every player dreams of being a Yankee, and if they don’t it’s because they never got the chance.”
