Aroldis Chapman expects boos in latest Bronx return as Red Sox closer's trade stock keeps rising
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free
For now, Aroldis Chapman is with the Red Sox, pitching at nearly peak form after several mediocre seasons that began in his latter stages with the Yankees.
The left-hander could end up being a coveted trade candidate, especially if Boston remains on the outside of the playoff race.
Advertisement
Before that happens, though, Chapman has a chance to close games in the heated Yankees-Red Sox rivalry for the first time — and he said Friday he has a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Stadium crowd this weekend.
'I think they're going to boo me,'' Chapman said through an interpreter before Friday's series opener in The Bronx.
3 Aroldis Chapman throws a pitch during the Red Sox's June 3 game.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Advertisement
Asked if that would bother him, the ex-Yankee closer laughed and said, 'No, it's not the first time that it would happen.'
That's certainly true, as Chapman had a very rocky tenure with the Yankees that included parts of seven seasons.
It ended in particularly ugly fashion as Chapman missed a month late in the regular season when he got a leg tattoo in mid-August and it got infected.
Advertisement
3 Aroldis Chapman walks off the field during the Yankees' game against the Rays in August 2022.
Charles Wenzelberg
He returned in September, but was left off the ALDS roster when he skipped a team workout prior to the start of the series.
'There were a lot of ups and downs,'' Chapman said. 'I try to think about the good moments I spent here.'
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS
Advertisement
The positives included three All-Star appearances, but the lows were more memorable — including Jose Altuve's walk-off homer in Game 6 to clinch the ALCS in 2019 and Mike Brousseau's go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 5 of the 2020 ALDS that helped seal the series for the Rays.
3 Carlos Narváez and Aroldis Chapman react after the Red Sox defeated the White Sox on April 13.
Getty Images
Chapman went on to sign with the Royals that offseason and was traded to the Rangers in the middle of the year, where he went on to help Texas win a World Series title.
After spending last year with the Pirates, Chapman, 37, signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal with Boston.
He entered Friday with a 0.960 WHIP in 25 innings over 27 appearances.
Chapman can still hit triple digits.
Advertisement
Chapman's fastball velocity is also a bit higher than it was a year ago, an improvement he called 'nothing special. I just keep working hard and want to help my team win and get back into the playoffs.'
There are plenty of contenders who will be looking for bullpen help in the next month or so and Chapman could again factor in those conversations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
17 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Tyrese Haliburton's rapid rise to superstardom is unprecedented
We're witnessing something unprecedented: The coronation of a superstar in hyperspeed. Usually the rise is gradual. We see it coming. The tide rises slowly, like the ebb and flow of waves, before the tsunami hits. But Tyrese Haliburton's ascension has been different. He's a spark that turned into a raging inferno in record-setting time, catching everyone by surprise. The NBA has never seen anything like it. Just last summer, Haliburton used self-deprecating humor to cope with the disappointment — and embarrassment — of hardly getting any playing time for Team USA during the Olympic Games. He posted a photo of himself on Instagram wearing the gold medal and wrote, "When you ain't do nun on the group project and still get an A." In February, he didn't make the All-Star team after a lingering hamstring injury prevented him from training much over the summer. And heading into the postseason, he was voted by his own peers as the most overrated player in the league in a poll by The Athletic. Haliburton wasn't even on the radar for becoming the league's next superstar, with names like Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic towering over him. But in a whiplash-inducing span of just under two months, Haliburton has completely rewritten the narrative. Said LeBron James: "Players will run through a wall for certain guys, and they will do that for Hali." Added Dwyane Wade: "Haliburton is a f---king superstar." The thing is, Haliburton's greatness is impossible to ignore. It's flashy and gaudy and has come in the form of four buzzer-beaters or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or in overtime this postseason. (He has five in his career.) Only one player has made more clutch shots than him, James, who has had eight such shots over his 22-season career. Making four of those shots in a 47-day span is stunning. To do it during the playoffs? That's something else altogether. They instantly went viral on the internet. They were replayed on every sports show. They were visceral. They were digestible, leaving even people who don't care about sports with their mouths ajar. Haliubrton has slapped us all across the face with his superstardom. It's different from any other player's. Take Nikola Jokić, for example. You can watch him dominate for two hours and still be surprised that he had 20-plus points, 20-plus rebounds and 20-plus assists. His dominance is subtle, artful, easily overlooked. Perhaps the excitement of Haliburton's run this postseason can most easily be compared to the awe that Stephen Curry inspires when he has his famous shooting explosions. But we saw Curry's rise. When he led Golden State to their first championship in 40 years in 2015, the Warriors had the best record in the league that season. We watched him for seven months before he crowned himself as a superstar in the playoffs. Really, with everyone else who has become a superstar in the NBA, we have had our finger on their pulse. We saw the pressure they faced, we watched them overcome obstacles, we cheered (or heckled) them as they crossed the finish line. Kobe Bryant's went from air-balling the ball four times in a playoff game his rookie year to turning himself into the Black Mamba. James went from being a 16-year-old who was labeled "The Chosen One" into a 40-year-old who was top-five in MVP votes this year. Michael Jordan went from being the Detroit Pistons' punching bag to becoming a six-time champion. Haliburton is obviously nowhere near their level. But we've had our eyes fixed on the young players in the league, waiting to see who was going to become the next face of the league. If Edwards was having this type of performance in the postseason, no one would've batted an eye. If Doncic had led the Lakers three wins shy of a championship, as Halibuton has with the Pacers, we would've understood how that happened. But Haliburton? The Pacers weren't even necessarily expected to get past the first round of the playoffs. He seemingly came out of nowhere. And he has done it in the most dramatic of fashions, helping the Pacers cheat death four times this postseason. In each of those games, he made either a buzzer-beater or the go-ahead bucket. In Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers won after trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by seven points in the final 35 seconds, The dagger: Haliubrton made a layup with 1.3 seconds left to force overtime. In Game 2 of the second round of the playoffs, the Pacers won after trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by seven points in the final minute. The dagger: Haliburton made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers won after trailing the New York Knicks by 14 points in the final 3 minutes, The dagger: Haliubrton made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. In Game 1 of the Finals, the Pacers won after trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder by nine points in the final 3 minutes, The dagger: Haliubrton made a 21-footer with 0.3 seconds left. Haliburton's rise has quite simply been incomparable. To go from being considered the most overrated player in the league to the face of the postseason in fewer than two months? We've never seen anything like it. It's hard to define a superstar. Does a player need to win an MVP to deserve that classification? A championship? Do fans determine who gets that label? Do former superstars crown the next generation? This much is for sure: Haliburton has taken the basketball world by storm. We didn't even know to be watching for him. Now, we simply can't take our eyes off him. Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area News Group and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @ melissarohlin . FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers National Basketball Association recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shaquille O'Neal picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the next face of the NBA: "If he wins a championship this year, it's his league"
Shaquille O'Neal picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the next face of the NBA: "If he wins a championship this year, it's his league" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Let's face it: the NBA is struggling to identify its next superstar after LeBron James and Stephen Curry. While there is no lack of talent, there remains a missing X factor: a superstar whose skill combined with charisma can lead the league into the future. The definition of popularity and star power has changed with the evolution of social media. Advertisement Fans today have more access to their favorite NBA superstars than ever. The overexposure has led to an absence of mystery. This was not the case in the previous eras, with legends such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who exuded aura. Another crucial factor is that the league hasn't found a talent since LeBron and Steph that is able to bring the game to a new dimension. Touching down upon the subject during the latest episode of the "Pivot Podcast," Shaquille O'Neal explained why greatness isn't handed it out, it's taken. The four-time champion shared Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's example, as he picked him as the next face of the league. "Right now, SGA is taking it, and he's taking it surely and smoothly. He ain't saying, not being arrogant about it. When I watch guys play and I get criticized for this a lot because my thing is, I've seen Magic, I've seen Jordan, I've seen Kareem, I've seen greatness. I've played with Penny, played with Kobe, played with D-Wade and LeBron. I've been part of greatness. If you're not in that category, I'm not giving you no type of props," revealed "The Big Diesel," who is widely regarded as the most dominating center of all time. Advertisement Talking about potential, Shaq added the following: "When they talk about who the next guy is, I say you got to give it to SGA right now because he's taking it. If he wins a championship this year, it's his league," claimed the Lakers legend, who was part of the last 3-peat in the NBA, between 2000 and 2002. Shaq's definition of greatness Often regarded as a tough critic, impressing Shaq is no easy feat. The three-time Finals MVP can be brutal with his words sometimes. Nonetheless, there have been instances of the fifteen-time All-Star giving due where needed. Addressing the subject of greatness, Shaq dished out some names, "SGA is in there now. Stephen Curry's in there now. Giannis and Joker, those guys are in." Advertisement Certainly, it's hard to disagree with "Big Diesel" in this case, given all the above names have proved themselves at each level. As Shai looks to secure his first championship, "The Chef," "Greek Freak," and "The Joker" have been granted the G-12 classification by the most dominant in history. Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me" Potential candidates for the future The process of identifying the future face of the NBA continues to be challenging. Nevertheless, there are certainly a couple of names who are truly deserving and could possibly take the baton. These nominees are the proper blend of skill and personality. Advertisement Starting with SGA, others capable of making the cut include Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama. That said, it won't be easy to replicate the impact of LeBron or Steph, who continue to dominate at a high level. Related: "He checks every single box for what you want" - Kendrick Perkins says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ready to be the next face of the NBA This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
21 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Guardians ace Shane Bieber stays optimistic despite facing setback in rehab
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber promised himself after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April that he would be honest about his rehabilitation process. Even though the Cleveland Guardians ace is going through his first setback, Bieber is trying to remain optimistic. Bieber is in the middle of a seven-day pause from throwing after experiencing soreness in his right elbow following his first rehab start on May 31 and a bullpen session on Tuesday. The right-hander was scheduled to make his second rehab start with Double-A Akron on Friday before being shut down. 'My mind went back to a very close buddy of mine said a few weeks or a few months back when I was starting bullpens. He was like, 'Just don't freak out. If you get a setback, everybody gets at least one,'' Bieber said before Saturday's game against the Houston Astros. 'I was hoping to be that anomaly, but at the same time, maybe it's just part of the process and I'm trying to listen to my elbow and my body and do what's best for myself and the team in the long term.' Bieber will be checked again the middle of next week before the team's medical staff and specialist Dr. Keith Meister decide the next steps. Bieber threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in an Arizona Complex League game on May 31, which was his 30th birthday. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner faced nine batters, allowed one hit and struck out five while throwing 42 pitches. 'I'm a little frustrated with the timing of it as I get out here to Cleveland and join the team, but unfortunately, these rehab processes aren't exactly linear,' Bieber said. 'I've had a fantastic progression up to this point. A small hiccup, but hopefully we'll just keep it at just that.' Bieber — who agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026 — appeared to be on pace to return to the Guardians' rotation in late June, but that could be delayed until after the All-Star break. Cleveland (33-29) went into Saturday 7 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central, and a half-game out of a wild-card spot. Guardians starters have the sixth-highest ERA in the American League (4.11).
