The Yankees knew the risk involved when they traded for Aroldis Chapman. Now it’s beginning to look like it was a risk worth taking.
According to a report by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports on Thursday, the 27-year-old flamethrower is unlikely to face a lengthy suspension for his alleged domestic violence incident, possibly stemming from a lack of evidence:
Word is going around that a long suspension is unlikely in the case of Aroldis Chapman’s alleged domestic violence incident. MLB is taking the domestic violence issue very seriously but word is the evidence may be thin in this case. The Yankees aren’t saying anything beyond that they did their “due diligence” in making the trade. But suffice it to say, they wouldn’t have made the deal if they thought he was in for a long suspension.
Chapman was acquired by the Yankees earlier this week in exchange for four middling prospects. He posted a 1.63 ERA with 33 saves and 116 strikeouts for the Reds last year, and has recorded 145 saves in the last four seasons.
The Cuban’s talent, however, has been overshadowed lately by that troubling alleged domestic dispute, which remains under investigation by the league. It’s an incident that caused a trade to the Dodgers that had already been agreed upon to crumble and that scared off other teams that were also interested in acquiring him, including the Red Sox.
It’s still entirely possible that Chapman will face some sort of suspension or other discipline from the MLB, as the exact scope of the term “long suspension” is somewhat vague and arbitrary. But fellow bullpen studs Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller around to hold down the fort for the Yankees, it seems like the team’s dice roll on Chapman was a calculated one after all.
