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New York Yankees could offer extension to Aroldis Chapman

By John Buhler

Jun 9, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees closing pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees closing pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees haven’t offered a contract extension to soon-to-be free agent reliever Aroldis Chapman, but could do so before the MLB trade deadline.

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, The New York Yankees could end up offering their soon-to-be free agent closer Aroldis Chapman a contract extension. Chapman, along with fellow Yankees reliever Andrew Miller, will garner a ton of interest towards to August 1 MLB trade deadline.

Despite being one game below .500 through 89 contests (44-45), much of Chapman and Miller’s availability on the trade market will stem from how the Yankees play in the next two weeks. New York is 8.5 games back of the first-place Baltimore Orioles in the American League and 5.5 games back of their division rival Toronto Blue Jays for the second American League Wild Card berth.

Chapman spent the previous six MLB seasons in the National League as an All-Star closer for the Cincinnati Reds. He is a flame-throwing southpaw that has made four trips to the MLB All-Star Game (2012-15) and has 163 career saves over seven Major League seasons.

Chapman was traded from the rebuilding Reds to the Yankees on December 28, 2015, for four prospects on the last year of his rookie contract. He famously defected from communist Cuba back in 2010 and made his MLB debut for Cincinnati in late August for the Reds’ playoff push.

In 2016, Chapman has 17 saves in 27 appearances, boasting a 2.39 ERA and a 0.911 WHIP in 26.1 innings pitched. Though he isn’t as dominant as he once was during some of his years with the Reds, Chapman is the high-octane boost some teams may look to strengthen their bullpen at the MLB trade deadline.

Currently, Chapman makes $11.33 million with the Yankees. New York seems to hold the upper hand with regards to Chapman, either being able to trade him for some much-needed prospects or sign him up for a team-friendly long-term deal.

Given that closers have a finite shelf life, the Yankees organization have to make a careful decision with regards to their 28-year-old fireball closer: should he stay or should he go?

For more MLB trade rumors, please check out our MLB trade rumors category page.

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