Chapman Closer, Other Roles Clarified For 2016 Yankees

With a little more than a month until Pitchers and Catchers, MLB is entering the home stretch of the off-season. Last night, on the Yankees' hot stove TV show, manager Joe Girardi provided some clarity regarding Spring Training and beyond:

LHP Aroldis Chapman will be the closer going into camp.

Alex Rodriguez, who was strictly a DH last season, will be the same in 2016.

OF Aaron Hicks could play four to five times a week, giving lots of rest to Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury.

C Gary Sanchez, a prime candidate for the backup job, will be watched closely all Spring. The job might be his to lose.


The words were barely out of Girardi's mouth before some fans began to complain that it wasn't fair to Andrew Miller. Hold your horses, folks. It's only Spring Training. Who knows what could happen before Opening Day? An injury. A suspension. Just wait and see.

Elsewhere in Yankees Universe, the LoHud Yankees Blog has a post up about a scenario in which Rob Refsnyder gets playing time at 2B, even with Starlin Castro in the lineup.  It will depend on different factors, so don't hold your breath. Read the post here.

Stay warm, folks!