Aroldis Chapman Wants an Apology Before Any Trade to the Yankees. He Might Be Waiting a While.

The idea of Aroldis Chapman coming back to the Yankees makes a ton of sense on paper. He’s a proven closer. New York’s bullpen could use the help. And the Red Sox are looking to sell.

But there’s a problem. A pretty big one.

Chapman, according to multiple reports, won’t agree to a trade back to New York unless the Yankees apologize for what happened in 2022. Specifically, he wants an apology from general manager Brian Cashman, who accused Chapman of insubordination after the pitcher missed a mandatory practice. Chapman insists he had permission to skip it.

The Beef That Won’t Die

This whole thing goes back to September 2022. Chapman didn’t show up for a required workout. The Yankees left him off the playoff roster. Cashman called it an act of insubordination. Chapman said he got the green light. No one backed down.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone later said flatly that Chapman is not owed an apology. That’s pretty clear. And from the sound of things, the front office feels the same way.

MLB insider Jon Heyman put it bluntly on MLB Network. “No apology forthcoming so it won’t be the Yankees,” Heyman said. He added that it’s “not likely the Yankees, they have a little bit of a misunderstanding and it doesn’t look like either side is gonna get over it.”

So that’s that. Or at least it looks that way.

The Closer Market

Chapman is still going to be available. The Red Sox are trending toward selling at the deadline, and he’s probably their most obvious trade chip. Heyman called him “the best closer out on the market.” A lot of contenders will want a veteran arm with his track record.

But the Yankees? Don’t hold your breath. The personal stuff between Chapman and Cashman is clearly more than just a minor spat. It’s a grudge. And grudges don’t usually end in trades.

So Chapman will likely head somewhere else. Maybe the Rangers. Maybe the Diamondbacks. Maybe a surprise team nobody’s talking about yet. The market will find a home for him. It just won’t be in the Bronx.

And that part of the story, honestly, might be more interesting than the trade itself.