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The New York Yankees have been called many things over the years—but “respectful” isn’t one of them according to Aroldis Chapman. The former Yankees closer, now thriving with the Boston Red Sox, unleashed a fiery rebuke of his old team during an appearance on the Spanish-language podcast Swing Completo.
When asked whether he’d ever consider returning to the Bronx, Chapman didn’t hesitate.
“No way. Not even dead,” he said. “If I were told that I was being traded to New York, I’d pack my things and go home. I’ll retire right on the spot if that happens. I’m not crazy. Never again.”
Chapman, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Yankees between 2016 and 2022, made it clear that his resentment has nothing to do with the clubhouse. He insisted he got along well with teammates and manager Aaron Boone but drew a firm line when it came to the front office.
“I dealt with a lot of disrespect there,” Chapman continued. “They just wanted to find a way to get rid of me, but they didn’t know how. I just dealt with it quietly, kept playing, and doing what I always do. The bosses are the ones who make those decisions.”
A Bitter Ending to a Tumultuous Yankees Tenure
Chapman’s Yankees career began with great promise. The Yankees acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds in 2016, and he quickly became one of baseball’s most dominant relievers, helping the team reach multiple postseasons and earning three All-Star selections in pinstripes. The Yankees even brought him back on a five-year, $86 million contract after briefly trading him to the Chicago Cubs for their 2016 championship run.
But the relationship soured late in his tenure. In 2022, Chapman posted a career-worst 4.46 ERA while losing his closer’s role. An infected leg tattoo sidelined him for a month, and when he skipped a mandatory postseason workout, the Yankees left him off the ALDS roster entirely. That decision effectively ended his time in New York, and Chapman left without ever pitching another inning for the team.
“I knew things were off at the end,” Chapman said. “They wanted me gone, and I could feel it.”
Chapman’s Career Revival with the Rival Red Sox
What once looked like the twilight of Chapman’s career has instead turned into a stunning second act. After short stints with the Royals, Rangers, and Pirates, he landed with the Boston Red Sox in 2025 and immediately dominated. The 37-year-old closer finished the season with a sparkling 1.17 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 32 saves over 61 1/3 innings—arguably the best performance of his career.
Boston rewarded him with a $13.3 million extension for 2026, a move that keeps him firmly in the American League East but far from Yankee Stadium.
That dynamic only adds salt to the wound for Yankee fans who remember Chapman as both hero and scapegoat—a flame-throwing closer whose time in New York ended in chaos.
While the Red Sox celebrate his resurgence, Chapman seems more than happy to keep his distance from the organization that once defined him.
“I’ll retire before I go back there,” he repeated firmly.
For the Yankees, the message couldn’t be clearer—one of their most recognizable stars of the past decade wants nothing to do with them ever again.
Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia
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