Yankees: 3 easy replacements for Aroldis Chapman
By John Buhler
The New York Yankees may need to replace All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman before it’s too late.
Aroldis Chapman may be heading to his seventh Mid-Summer Classic, but he has not been getting it done of late in the New York Yankees bullpen.
The 33-year-old, left-handed fireballer from Cuba may have 16 saves on the season, but has not recorded one in half a month. Chapman has a 4.71 ERA and a 1.430 WHIP in 32 appearances for the 2021 Yankees. His last three appearances out of the Yankees bullpen have been disastrous. They are still in fourth place in the AL East standings. New York may need to make a move here.
If the Yankees do want to move off Chapman at the trade deadline, they will have some options.
New York Yankees: 3 replacements for Aroldis Chapman in the closer’s role
Scouting Report. RHP. Richard Rodriguez. 4. Pick Analysis. Pittsburgh Pirates. 3. player
Richard Rodriguez could be available, but he will not come to New York cheap
The Pittsburgh Pirates are not going to be heading to the postseason this year. While they have plenty of intriguing trade assets, we have to wonder if the Pirates organization thinks it can win with this core, or if it will finally win with the next core. If it is the latter, then marquee trade pieces like right-hander Richard Rodriguez could be expendable. He can fetch them a ton on the market.
Rodriguez is in the midst of his best season out of the Dominican Republic. He has a 2.51 ERA and an 0.804 WHIP in 31 appearances for the Pirates out of the bullpen. He has recorded a career-high 11 saves already with impeccable control. Rodriguez has struck out 27 batters, while only walking three in 32.1 innings this year for the Buccos. He is under contract through the 2023 MLB season.
That really is the only downside in trading for Rodriguez. The Yankees will have to give up a lot for the 31-year-old right-hander who is just now entering his prime. Yes, you will have control for the next 2.5 years, but you have to wonder if this great play for him out of the Pirates’ bullpen is sustainable. Though he would solve an issue for the Yankees, this move may blow up in their face.
Rodriguez’s trade value is at an all-time high, but we do wonder if the bubble is about to burst.