Chapman misses workout, left off Yankees' ALDS roster

October 11th, 2022

NEW YORK -- Aroldis Chapman may have thrown his last pitch as a member of the Yankees.

The left-handed reliever was disciplined and informed that he would not appear on the Yankees’ American League Division Series roster after missing a mandatory team workout on Friday at Yankee Stadium, general manager Brian Cashman said on Sunday.

“You've got to be all in at this time of year, and it’s disappointing,” Cashman said. “We have people here who are competing and dying to be on this roster, fighting to be on this roster. Even though those decisions haven’t been made yet, he chose to be absent.”

The Yankees concluded the regular season on Wednesday at Texas and were permitted to travel on their own for an off-day on Thursday, with the understanding that they must return to New York by Friday.

Chapman opted to go to his Miami-area home and remained there on Friday, when he was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session against his teammates. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Chapman did not have “an acceptable excuse” for missing the workout.

“Him not being here was not OK,” Boone said. “I just felt like it was best for him to stay away for now.”

Cashman said that he fined Chapman an undisclosed amount, after which Boone told Chapman that he should stay home for the ALDS. Cashman said he could not think of another example of a player skipping a mandatory workout during his tenure.

“I think he questioned whether he was going to be on the roster or not. He needed to be here,” Boone said.

Boone said he was not prepared to rule out considering Chapman for the later postseason rounds. It has been a nightmarish season for the 34-year-old Chapman, a former elite closer who earned $16 million this year and will be eligible for free agency.

Chapman was 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA in 43 appearances, finishing 19 games. In 36 1/3 innings, he permitted 18 runs and 24 hits, issuing 28 walks against 43 strikeouts. He lost his closer’s job to right-hander Clay Holmes early in the season, struggling with ineffectiveness and missing time due to a leg infection stemming from a tattoo he received in August.

“When you add everything up, it’s not surprising,” Cashman said. “There’s some questions about whether he’s all-in or not for a little while. He’s maintained verbally that he’s in, but at times actions don’t match those words. So when he didn’t show on Friday, obviously at first there were a lot of people upset and caught off guard.”

Chapman had seemingly righted the ship somewhat down the stretch, allowing runs in just one of his final seven outings. Chapman was in consideration for a middle-relief role during the playoffs, though he was not considered a lock to be on the roster.

“There was no legitimate reason why he wasn’t here,” Cashman said. “He’s employed. He was due to provide work. The postseason roster hadn’t been set yet. He chose not to come.”

The Yanks’ playoff bullpen figures to lean heavily upon Holmes, who is recovering from right shoulder inflammation and may not be available for Tuesday’s Game 1. Boone’s circle of trusted relievers also includes Scott Effross, Jonathan Loáisiga and Lou Trivino.

“The focus is on the guys we have currently, and that’s what we’re going to focus on,” Cashman said.