TAMPA — After signing a five-year, $86 million deal to return to the Yankees last year, Aroldis Chapman didn’t have an ideal first full season in The Bronx.
He missed more than a month in the first half with rotator cuff inflammation in his left shoulder. He also gave up two homers to left-handed hitters (Rafael Devers and Yonder Alonso) after allowing just one in his career before 2017.
And there was a stretch in August in which he was scored upon in four straight appearances, which led to Chapman briefly losing his role as closer.
“I definitely don’t want to go through the same rough patch that I did last year,” Chapman said through a translator Thursday.