Remember when the Yankees were reluctant to offer contract extensions to players just to avoid them hitting the open market? Boy, how times have changed.
The latest Yankee to cash in on the new Steinbrenner way of business is closer Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman, who had two years, $30 million remaining on his original contract, told the club that if an extension wasn’t granted, he’d look for a better deal elsewhere.
Therefore, after winning the AL Reliever of the Year Award, the Yankees front office decided that keeping its dynamic bullpen intact was crucial, considering the sometimes unreliable market for starting pitchers.