As expected, the Yankees will go into Spring Training with Aroldis Chapman as their closer, Joe Girardi confirmed during a YES Network interview last night (video link). “We’ll go into Spring Training with Chapman as our closer,” said the skipper. Can’t say I’m surprised. This felt inevitable once the trade went down.
Chapman spent the last four seasons as the Reds closer and he was an All-Star all four years. He’s widely considered either the best or second best closer in the game. Those guys usually don’t lose the ninth inning just because they were traded. The only way Chapman wasn’t closing in 2016 was if Mariano Rivera came out of retirement.
Andrew Miller did a dynamite job as the closer last season and he’ll now join Dellin Betances to form a stupid good setup tandem. Miller has said he doesn’t care about his role, for what it’s worth. Girardi is pretty darn good with his bullpens and I’m sure he’ll have Miller and Betances (and Chapman) on the mound in high-leverage spots.
Of course, there’s also the matter of Chapman’s ongoing domestic violence investigation. His suspension will likely be announced before camp opens and it is not expected to be lengthy, whatever that means. A week? Two weeks? A month? Who knows. I assume Miller will close while Chapman is suspended with Betances again setting up.
Girardi was asked about the investigation and the possibility of a suspension and basically no commented. He said he supports Chapman and respects MLB’s process. Hopefully the suspension isn’t too long and the Yankees are able to get 60-something elite innings from their new closer. That’s the best case scenario right now.
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