NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Yankees fulfilled the main objective of the off-season late Wednesday night, agreeing with closer Aroldis Chapman on a five-year, $86 million contract. The deal reunited the Yankees with the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball after they traded him to the Chicago Cubs last July.
The deal was confirmed by a person briefed on the agreement who requested anonymity because the deal had not been completed. Chapman must pass a physical to make it official.
Chapman, who turns 29 in February, becomes the highest-paid reliever in major league history. His $17.2 million annual salary surpasses the $15.