New York Yankees might be forced to look for a new closer once the 2019 MLB season wraps up. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Chapman intends to opt-out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent.
Rosenthal reports that a player close to Chapman told him that there is “one million percent” chance the 31-year-old All-Star gets out of his contract with the Yankees.
Chapman inked a five-year, $86 million contract with the organization in 2017, and has opt-out clause after the third year. He is scheduled to earn $34.4 million in the final two years of the deal but believes that the free market could get him an even bigger payday.
Aroldis Chapman played impressive baseball with the Yankees so far in 2019, showing why he is one of the best closers in MLB at this moment. In 29 games he played this year, Chapman posted 2.45 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while adding 53 strikeouts. He also has 25 saves from 29 opportunities.
