Aroldis Chapman, Yankees reach deal for $86M, 5 years: report
Hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman reached an agreement to return to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in the highest-priced contract ever for a relief pitcher, an $86 million deal for five years. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the contract was pending a physical. Once completed, the 28-year-old lefty, whose fastballs routinely top 100 mph, would shatter the previous richest contract for a reliever. That was the $62 million, four-year deal Mark Melancon signed with San Francisco during the winter meetings. Chapman went 4-1 with 36 saves and a 1.55 ERA in a combined 59 games for the Yankees and Cubs.