NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The most electrifying left arm in baseball is returning to The Bronx and instantly provides the Yankees with an elite late-game bullpen that might have to support a suspect rotation.
Equipped with a 105-mph fastball that captivated Yankee Stadium crowds this past summer closer Aroldis Chapman agreed to a five-year contract for $86 million from the Yankees late Wednesday evening.
The deal, which is the largest ever for a reliever, includes a full no-trade clause over the first three years and an opt-out after that third year, won’t be finalized until Chapman passes a physical.
Chapman, who turns 29 in February, chose the Yankees over the Marlins, who made a strong effort to sign him. The move reunites Chapman with three-time All-Star Dellin Betances, who will work in front of Chapman and until Wednesday night was the Yankees’ closer.
Despite believing his club wasn’t one player away from being a serious World Series contender general manager Brian Cashman stayed away from surrendering prospects for lefty starter Chris Sale who went from the White Sox to the Red Sox.
Nevertheless, Chapman didn’t cost Cashman any of his prized prospects or a compensation draft pick which would have been the 16th of next year’s amateur draft had they signed fellow free agent Kenley Jansen.
Acquired from the Reds late last December and, after serving a suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy, Chapman appeared in 31 games for the Yankees before being dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline for Gleyber Torres, a top prospect, and Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford. Chapman helped the Cubs win the World Series, their first world championship in 108 years.
Since the day he was dealt away Chapman wasn’t shy about his desire to return to the Yankees when he became a free agent following that World Series.
According to two sources Chapman decided Monday he was going to sign with the Yankees or the Marlins and picked the Yankees on Wednesday, the fourth day of the winter meetings at Gaylord National.
The Yankees made offers to Chapman and Jansen and Cashman spoke to their respective agents Wednesday.