Fansided

3 former Yankees proving Brian Cashman wrong with new team

By Zachary Rotman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees reacts after being pulled from the mound during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 19, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Blue Jays won 4-0. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees reacts after being pulled from the mound during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 19, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Blue Jays won 4-0. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Apr 1, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

These 3 former members of the New York Yankees are proving that Brian Cashman should not have let them go with great starts with their new teams

The start of the 2023 season is not one that New York Yankees fans envisioned. Carlos Rodon has yet to throw a pitch in pinstripes, and their Injured List might have more talent than the team the Yankees are trotting out there every night now.

Judge, Stanton, Donaldson, Rodon, Severino, Montas, Effross, Loaisiga, Trivino, and Kahnle, are all out with injuries. Some will be out more than others, but the injuries (and the insane AL East) are why the Yankees currently sit in last place in the AL East.

The Yankees have had to turn to players Yankee fans have never heard of to try and provide a spark while fans watch other players who would be great on this team now, be successful elsewhere.

1) Aroldis Chapman is proving Brian Cashman wrong with the Kansas City Royals

After years of dominance, it appeared Aroldis Chapman was on the downside of his career. Last season he had a 4.46 ERA in 43 appearances. His velocity was down, his breaking pitches weren’t as sharp, and he lost his spot as the Yankees closer.

To make matters worse for the former Yankees southpaw, Chapman did not show up to a team workout before the postseason and was left off of the postseason roster. Chapman’s ending to his tenure as a Yankee couldn’t have gone much worse.

As a result of his rough ending with the Yankees, Chapman had to settle for a one-year deal this offseason worth $3.75 million guaranteed.

After averaging 100.2 mph with his sinker and 97.5 mph with his four-seam fastball last season, Chapman is now averaging 101.6 mph with his sinker and 99.4 mph with his four-seamer. Quite the difference while not even serving as the closer on a bad Kansas City team.

As a result of his sudden increase in velocity, Chapman has 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings of work. He has a 3.09 ERA and a 1.65 FIP. He has looked a lot closer to the dominant arm he was for much of his Yankees tenure.

Now, Yankees fans have to watch Chapman succeed in Kansas City (and likely another team after the deadline) while their team has a large chunk of its bullpen on the Injured List, and while Clay Holmes continues to struggle late in games.

It’s hard to blame Cashman for letting him go, I would’ve done the same thing. That doesn’t mean Chapman isn’t proving him wrong for doing so.

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