There are two elite closers left on the free-agent market after the San Francisco Giants signed Mark Melancon on Monday, and the New York Yankees are trying to acquire one of them.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported that the Yankees have made contract offers to free-agent relievers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.
Chapman was with the Yankees last season before getting traded to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline. He combined to close 36 of 39 games with a 1.55 ERA in 2016. Chapman would not cost the Yankees a draft pick because he was traded during the season, while Jansen would. GM Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday (via Newsday’s Erik Boland) that the team’s preference is “to retain the pick if possible.”
Jansen is coming off an amazing season that sam him post 47 saves—tied for the second-most in the league in 2016—with a 1.83 ERA.
A GM in the bullpen market told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark he thinks the contracts of Chapman and Jansen will end up between $85 and $95 million over five years. Wherever they end up, Chapman and Jansen are going to be richer for it.
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