The Yankees have fined their struggling relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman for an unexcused absence from a mandatory team practice session Friday at Yankee Stadium, and he will not be on the team’s roster for its American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, which begins on Sept Tuesday begins.
After the regular season ended Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, Chapman flew home to Miami for the team’s day off Thursday. He chose not to return to New York for Friday’s practice, for which he was scheduled to host live batting practice, manager Aaron Boone said.
“I was disappointed,” Boone said. Calling Chapman’s apology “unacceptable,” he said, “I think he was wondering if he was going to be on the list or not, but he had to be here.” Boone spoke to Chapman by phone after Friday’s practice and told him , he should stay away from the team for the time being.
Given his inconsistencies on the mound, Chapman’s status for the team’s first round of playoffs had been in doubt. In a season in which he had two stints on the injured list, including one from an infection stemming from a leg tattoo, Chapman posted an earned running average of 4.46, had his highest walk rate in 11 years, and lost the role of closer Clay Holmes.
“You have to be all-in at this time of year,” said Cashman, who also spoke to Chapman and his agent. “So he effectively made that kind of decision.”
Chapman was not immediately available for comment. A message was left for him at his personal assistant on Sunday.
As recently as last season, Chapman, 34, was an All-Star. But his signature triple-digit speed has eroded over the years, and his strikeout rate and command have deteriorated. Despite opponents batting .188 against him this season, he walked 28 batters in 36⅓ innings.
The Yankees’ bullpen has been rocked by injuries this season, including Wandy Peralta and Holmes, both expected back for the Division Series. (However, Holmes had been faltering lately after an excellent first half.) With no other bullpen options like Zack Britton, Chad Green, Michael King and Ron Marinaccio, Chapman was fighting for a roster spot for the series against the Guardians.
Although the Yankees didn’t rule out Chapman for future playoff rounds should they advance, Cashman said that “future discussions” were needed and that the final decision would rest with Boone. But given the way team officials have spoken publicly about Chapman, it seems his time in the Bronx is over. Chapman is in the final year of his contract, which was renewed after the 2019 season, and the Yankees had concerns about him.
Cashman, who has been the Yankees’ general manager since 1998, said he’s never had a player fail to show up for mandatory practice. He said he was shocked to hear Chapman skipped Friday’s practice session.
“When you add it all up, it’s not surprising,” he said. “There are some questions about whether or not he’s been all-in for a while. He’s verbally claimed he’s in, but his actions don’t match those words.”
Cashman declined to detail the team’s concerns about Chapman, who spent six and a half years with the Yankees. He said Chapman’s stint with the Yankees has been “exemplary.”
“Obviously when you’re used to being superhuman and then dealing with adversity, people deal with it differently,” Cashman said. “And this year has been a struggle for him. Sometimes you saw the flashes that it’s there. And there were other times when it went away and he fought against it.”
Cashman continued, “This game is not easy. You don’t have to make it harder by not showing up for mandatory practice, both for yourself if you’re fighting for a postseason and for your teammates who are in there right now struggling to be ready when called and trying to put themselves in the best position to be successful for us, our city and our fanbase. That’s the job and he’s chosen not to be a part of it.”
When asked if the tattoo incident was a problem this season, Cashman said the Yankees were initially concerned Chapman was receiving the proper treatment for the “severe infection.” He added: “I do not recommend and certainly hope that all athletes choose not to inked in the season.”
The Yankees acquired Chapman ahead of the 2016 season while he was being investigated on charges of domestic violence. Chapman, who later served a 30-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s collectively negotiated domestic violence policy, was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs in mid-2016 and helped them win a World Series . He returned to the Yankees the following offseason on a five-year, $86 million contract. While in the Bronx, he made 153 of his 315 career saves with a 2.94 ERA.