Report: Yankees 'impressed' with Chapman, could re-sign closer

From the moment the Yankees traded for closer Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds at a bargain price last December, New York was taking a chance. In acquiring Chapman, a one-year rental who served a month-long suspension in April due to a domestic violence incident, the expectations of a long-term relationship were faint. But in the midst of assembling baseball's most potent bullpen trio of Chapman, Dellin Betances, and Andrew Miller, it could be tough for New York to let go of its forte. Already in late June, a handful of National League clubs have inquired about the tandem of Chapman and Miller, who are undeniably the Yankees' most valuable assets. But New York's front office has denied the notion of becoming sellers at the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1, despite that the team has struggled to float above the .500 mark. While the Yankees' legitimacy as a postseason contender remains to be seen, Chapman's personal success has apparently impressed ownership enough to consider keeping the bullpen trio intact beyond 2016, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe: Chapman can be a free agent after the season and the Yankees have been impressed with the flame-throwing lefthander and may try to re-sign him. The Yankees believe in their three-headed monster at the end of games and have no reason to break it up now. Since Opening Day, the Yankees have recorded 22 saves and 29 holds, with the Betances-Miller-Chapman trio combining for 157 strikeouts and only 22 earned runs in 89 innings. Although Chapman becomes a free agent after this season, Miller is signed for the next two years, while Betances is not eligible for free agency until after the 2019 campaign. As for the cost of Chapman, the 28-year-old flamethrower will likely garner the most money ever given to a closer, with the current record belonging to Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 at the age of 31.