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MLB free agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Aroldis Chapman

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 20, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) pumps his fist after they beat the against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) pumps his fist after they beat the against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees

The Yankees could conceivably come out of the nearly year-long Chapman saga as the undeniable winners. Brian Cashman was opportunistic in trading for the closer in the middle of the 2016 offseason, giving up only mid-level prospects who did not figure into the Yankees’ future to acquire him when his value was at its lowest. Then at the trade deadline, Cashman flipped him for the Cubs’ best prospect, Gleyber Torres. Now, the Yankees will have a shot at bringing him back again without losing a draft pick.

Cashman and the front office pulled off a stunning rebuild at the trade deadline, managing to rejuvenate the entire farm system with only a few trades. Even more stunning, the team responded to the teardown by playing its best baseball of the season and nearly made the playoffs.

Even with the emergence of young stars on offense, the Yankees still have a huge need for pitching help, but there are very few quality starters on the market this offseason. They need a second elite reliever to allow Dellin Betances to face a lighter workload. Over the past three years, Betances has appeared in 217 games and thrown nearly 250 innings. His arm needs to be preserved. The 28-year-old right-hander pitched to a 9.64 ERA in September, looking utterly exhausted.

If the Yankees front office decides this team has a legitimate shot to contend immediately in 2017, expect them to make another play on Chapman. The Yankees have never been shy about paying for top relief talent, dating back to the late 1990s. New York is not a lock to be in on Chapman, but it would not be surprising to see him wearing pinstripes once again.

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