Aroldis Chapman Out As Yankees Closer -- For Now
By KYLE HIGHTOWER, AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) — Aroldis Chapman is out as the New York Yankees closer.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Saturday night's game with the Boston Red Sox that the hard throwing lefty, who gave up two runs in a non-save appearance in Friday's 9-6 loss to Boston, is being taken out of that role to work through some location issues.
Chapman will be used "at any point" for now, Girardi said, though he stopped short of naming his replacement. Instead, Dellin Betances and David Robertson will be used based on the situation, to allow flexibility.
Chapman has given up at least two runs in each of his last three outings. It includes a game earlier this week against Boston in New York in which he blew a lead in a 3-2 loss.
Girardi said an injury has been ruled out as a culprit for Chapman's recent issues, and that Chapman told him he was willing to do "whatever it takes" for the team to win.
"He knows that he needs to get back on track and that he's scuffled a little bit," Girardi said. "But he said 'I'm willing to do anything. I just want to win.'"
Girardi said he thinks Chapman has been off for about the past two weeks and he hopes moving him around will help him get things back on track.
He emphasized that this change could be short-lived, depending upon how Chapman responds to it.
His inclination is that it will be a positive for him.
"When we get him going like I believe he will get going, there's a good chance I'll put him back in that closer's role," Girardi said.
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