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Aroldis Chapman agrees to five-year deal to return to Yankees

By Phillip Barnard

Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws to first base to check on a runner agaiinst the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws to first base to check on a runner agaiinst the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aroldis Chapman has signed on to return to the New York Yankees.

One of the bigger names in free agency this week at the Winter Meetings has been Aroldis Chapman. The Cubs World Series closer hit the free agent market after picking up a ring with Chicago and is now heading back into an old uniform.

Ken Rosenthal broke the news on Twitter late Wednesday night that Chapman will be returning to the New York Yankees. He agreed to a deal for five years worth a reported $86 million. He returns to the team almost a year to the day that he was initially traded to them.

The Cubs had no problem offloading Chapman, as they dealt Jorge Soler to the Royals this week for another bullpen arm in Wade Davis. That freed Chapman up to take a look at other suitors, and this week’s Winter Meetings allowed that to happen.

Chapman was dealt from the Reds to the Yankees last December but missed the first 30 games of the 2016 season due to an off-field violence issue. The Reds sent him to the Cubs in July, where he helped Theo Epstein’s club snag their first World Series victory in 108 years.

Marly Rivera of ESPN reports part of the deal announced that he cannot be traded for a minimum of three years, and it cannot be to a team anywhere in the state of California. So the Yankees will have him at least until 2020, before they can decide what their plans for the future are.

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The Yankees, Marlins and Dodgers were all in the mix for Chapman as of Wednesday morning. With this news breaking, it leaves Kenley Jansen as the only unsigned closer left on the free agent market. It’s a huge week for the Yankees, as they also picked up Matt Holliday, who will make the switch to the American League in 2017.

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