Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller combined for 233 strikeouts in 142.2 innings of work while safely closing the door 43/51 times as one of the most lethal duos at the back of the bullpen in the league in 2015. After KC emerged in 2014 with their strong bullpen, many teams have now started to copy them. Then in 2015 the Royals took it to the next level by winning the championship as Wade Davis struck out the last batter to take the crown. Even having Miller and Betances wasn’t enough for the Yankees to advance, so they just went out and traded for the best closer in the game in Aroldis Chapman.
The Yankees sent minor leaguers Eric Jagielo, Rookie Davis, Caleb Cothman, and Tony Renda to Cincy in return. Again, Brian Cashman has made a big move without giving up key farm system pieces. But, what does adding Chapman mean? The Yankees signed Miller to a 4-year deal last offseason to be their closer, but now with Chapman in New York, doesn’t that mean that he has to close instead of Miller? According to Cashman himself, none of the three guys will be traded, but there have been speculations of trading Miller for a starter since he was on the trade block early in the offseason. If neither reliever is dealt, then Spring Training will be where the decision is made on their roles; or will they all be platooning?
Brian Cashman has totally changed the look of the Yankees way of preparing for a championship run. The biggest acquisition in 2014 was Didi Gregorious, and this winter, Cashman has found a way to keep his top prospects yet acquire two all-star players in Chapman along with Starlin Castro. The new Yankee has a career K/9 of 15.4 with batters hitting .154 against him. At the end of the year Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, and CC Sabathia come off of the books, but everyone else is locked up for a few years. With youngsters Gregorious, Judge, and Bird still developing while the veterans are on the team for one more season with the potential of the rotation being lethal if health is not an issue, did Cashman just add Chapman to confirm the Yankees hunt of #28?
However, can they all get along? Paplebon and Storen didn’t in DC, and Chapman has been rumored to be an outcast in clubhouse?
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