When the Yankees originally acquired Aroldis Chapmanin December 2015, they did so with the understanding their new prized closer carried significant off-field baggage.At the time, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner downplayedthe negative pre s. Chapman served a 30-game suspension underMLB'sdomestic violence policy,
Bryce Harper Cool Base White Jersey returned to pitch ata high level and allowed the Yankees to sell him to the Cubs for a premium at the deadline.MORE: Every MLB team's worst postseason memory, revisited Now, after a five-year, $86 million investment for a second turn in New York,Steinbrennerbelieves Chapman's checkered past is water under the bridge."Quite frankly, it was manageable the minute he got here last year,'' Steinbrenner said at the quarterly owners' meetings Thursday, via USA Today Sports. "He was great.
Ryan Zimmerman Jersey Look, he admitted he me sed up. He paid the penalty. Sooner or later, we forget, right? That's the way we're supposed to be in life."He did everything right, and said everything right, when he was with us.''Just spoke to Hal Steinbrenner. What he meant by earlier Chapman comments was sooner or later we forgive. Mi spoke with forget. David Lennon (@DPLennon) February 3, 2017In October 2015, Chapman was accused of pushing and choking his girlfriend and discharging a firearm six times during a dispute at their Florida home.Chapman was not arrested, and prosecutors in the case eventually declined to pre s charges, citing conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence.Nonethele s, Chapman became the first player to be suspended under MLB's
Bryce Harper Cool Base Navy Jersey more stringentpunishment system for domestic violence offenses, which does not require criminal charges for commi sioner Rob Manfred to i sue punishment.Chapman voluntarily accepted the ban and returned to make 20 saves for the Yankees, posting a2.01 ERA, before he was dealt to Chicagofor three prospects. He performed even better for
Bryce Harper Cool Base Red Jersey the eventual World Series champions, including pitching the final 1 1/3 innings to close out the Indians in Game 7.More importantly, Chapmanstayed out of trouble, and cashed in as a free agentto return to the Yankees with the richest contract even given to a relief pitcher.Steinbrenner ravesabout
Stephen Strasburg Jersey Chapman every time he's asked, and he believes Yankees fans feel the same way.Its a lot of money for a reliever, he said. Obviously, hes a special player. Hes about as strong a guy as youll ever come acro s."Hell be great. The fans are excited. ... They love him. There are so few baseball players that I feel can really get fans to buy a ticket and brings their kids to their game, and hes one of them.