New York Yankees ink flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman

The New York Yankees are wheeling and dealing at baseball’s winter meetings.

The New York Yankees have reportedly signed closer Aroldis Chapman to a five-year deal worth $86 million, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

The Yankees have been connected to their former closer, Aroldis Chapman. Chapman pitched very well in both NY and Chicago, and he consistently throws in the 100 miles per hour range.

At the time, he left a message to Yankees fans on his Instagram account that showed he was open to a return. ESPN’s Jayson Stark has reported that the Marlins and Yankees have both floated five-year contracts to the pair of relievers, but Chapman would be the Bombers’ preference here.

Because he was traded midseason from the Yankees to the Cubs, Chapman was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer.

With Chapman off the board, the Dodgers and Marlins will likely compete to sign Jansen, who is expected to command a deal somewhere in between what Melancon and Chapman received. This past season he was as dominant as ever with a 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP with 104 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 68 2/3 innings, recording 47 saves along the way. You’d expect a retaliation signing or trade that would get everyone talking.

Chapman saved 20 games for the Yankees before the trade and had 36 regular season saves in total. And they’ve already talked to the White Sox about David Robertson.

Chapman, 28, will slot behind Dellin Betances to work the ninth inning as the Yankees will try to shorten games behind what could be a shaky starting rotation.

As Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi detailed an uneventful third day of the winter meetings on Wednesday, he indicated the premium closers are holding up the market.

“You’ve seen what this guy has done over the years”, Hahn said Monday.