Chapman, Yankees avoid arbitration

Ace reliever's contract for 2016 valued at $11.325M

February 12th, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees and left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman agreed to a one-year contract worth $11,325,000 Friday, avoiding arbitration.
The value of Chapman's contract is $275,000 above the midpoint of the two parties' filings and represents a considerable raise over the $8,075,000 he earned with the Reds last year.
In January, Chapman had filed at $13.1 million while the Yankees countered at $9 million.
Chapman, who turns 28 this month, was 4-4 with 33 saves and a 1.63 ERA in 65 appearances with Cincinnati in 2015. His 15.74 strikeouts per nine innings led all Major League relievers, while his 116 strikeouts ranked second behind only the Yankees' Dellin Betances (131).
The Yankees acquired the hard-throwing hurler from Cincinnati in December in exchange for four Minor Leaguers: right-handers Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda.
General manager Brian Cashman acknowledged then that the asking price for Chapman had dropped in the wake of allegations of domestic violence following an Oct. 30 incident in Florida.
Prosecutors decided not to file charges against Chapman in that case, citing a lack of evidence, but Major League Baseball has continued to investigate Chapman under the sport's new domestic abuse policy, leaving open the possibility of some disciplinary measure in the near future.
Over six career Major League seasons (2010-15), Chapman has gone 19-20 with 146 saves, a 2.17 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 324 relief appearances. He is the only pitcher in Major League history with four seasons of at least 30 saves and 100 strikeouts, having done so in each of the last four years (2012-15).