Aroldis Chapman is on the scene

A few things to ponder as we await the start of the 2016 season… First and foremost, the Yankees have definitively announced that Aroldis Chapman will be their closer for the 2016 season. Chapman’s contract is set to end after the this season when he will be able to go into free agency, but his still to be determined forthcoming MLB suspension might change that (even though he wasn’t charged with a crime).

Reports have indicated that Chapman won’t face a long suspension, which would allow him to enter free agency after this year. Yankees fans should hope Chapman faces a lengthy suspension because it would allow the Yanks to hold onto him for another season. As a result, the Yankees would have about a year and a half to decide if they want to resign Chapman or let him go. On paper, the Yankees have a deadly bullpen. The trio of Chapman, Miller and Bentances will shorten the game.

The Yankees bullpen is a strength among a slew of question marks for the team. C.C. Sabathia is coming off a shortened season due to a combination of injuries and going to rehab for alcoholism. Ivan Nova was largely ineffective after returning from injury. Masahiro Tanaka performed well, but was nothing compared to the numbers he was putting up before he got injured. The offense is also the usual question mark, as it has been for the past few years. The Yankees are actively attempting to rebuild, which may or not may not work. That rebuilding effort could be considered a partial success in 2015, so there is some reason for optimism that the momentum can continue into this year and beyond.