Aroldis Chapman had until midnight on Sunday to opt out of the final two years of his deal, which would have paid him $30 million. Instead, Chapman and the team extended the contract by one year for an added $18 million, a source confirmed, so he essentially has a new three-year contract worth $48 million.
Chapman confirmed the news that he was staying with the Yankees on Twitter, writing, “New York, I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.’’ The extension means the Yankees will have one less potential hole to fill in their bullpen.
Though Chapman’s season ended in ugly fashion, when he gave up the game-winning homer to Jose Altuve in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6 of the ALCS, he was otherwise mostly excellent.
He had 37 saves in 60 appearances during the regular season, and although his velocity has slipped, Chapman has added an effective slider. It was that slider that Altuve crushed for the Game 6 homer.
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