The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox rarely make trades, but if they somehow did swing a deal this off-season it won’t involve superstar closer Aroldis Chapman.
The Red Sox closer, who spent seven seasons as the closer of the Yankees, said he would rather retire than come back to the Bronx on the “Swing Completo” podcast recently.
Chapman registered 153 saves with the Yankees and ranks third on their all-time list — behind only Mariano Rivera and Dave Righetti. He helped them get to the postseason six times while logging three 30-save seasons in pinstripes, but his most memorable moment came surrendering a series-ending home run to Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS.
Chapman has one more season on his contract with the Red Sox plus a mutual option for 2027. He went 5-3 with a 1.17 ERA and 32 saves in a resurgent season, but the Yankees defeated the Red Sox in three games in the AL Wild Card Series.
Aroldis Chapman Would ‘Pack His Things And Go Home’ If Traded to the Yankees
Chapman was acquired by the Yankees before the 2016 MLB season then spent part of that one season before they traded him to the Chicago Cubs — where he helped them win their first title in 108 years.
But Chapman returned to New York on a five-year, $86 million contract and ended up getting two deals in the Bronx. But things soured, which is why he no longer feels warm and fuzzy about his time with the Yankees.
“No way, not even dead,” Chapman answered, as translated from Spanish, according to ESPN.com. “If I were told that I was being traded to New York, I’d pack my things and go home. I’ll retire right on the spot if that happens. I’m not crazy. Never again.”
Chapman lost his closer role with the Yankees in 2022, ceding it to Clay Holmes on their run to the ALCS that year. Chapman went 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA in the regular season and did not make a postseason appearance for the Yanks that year.
“I dealt with a lot of disrespect with them,” Chapman said, referencing the Yankees. “I put up with a lot of things. I knew that they just wanted to find a way to get rid of me, but they didn’t know how, and I just dealt with it quietly, kept playing, and doing what I always do.”
Aroldis Chapman Hinted At A Rift With General Manager Brian Cashman
Even though the Yankees and Red Sox are rivals, there is a lot of crossover between the rosters, particularly in Boston’s bullpen.
Chapman was one of four former Yankees among 2025 Red Sox relievers, since he, Garret Whitlock, Greg Weissert and Justin Wilson each also pitched in the Bronx.
Few former Yankees have bad things to say about manager Aaron Boone, and the Red Sox closer affirmed that sentiment — and that he keeps up with many of his former teammates that are still playing in pinstripes.
“I got along well with all the players,” he said. “Never had a problem with anybody, even the manager. We’re friends and we talk and everything. The bosses are the ones who make those decisions.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former Yankees Pitcher Says He’d Rather Retire Than Rejoin Team appeared first on Heavy Sports.