4 Bullpen Additions Yankees Should Pursue After Aroldis Chapman Opts Out

News that Aroldis Chapman plans to opt out of his contract with the Yankees at the end of the year has the future of the team's bullpen suddenly shrouded in uncertainty. Chapman, who would earn $30 million over the next two years if he stuck with the team, will command a larger contract in free agency, and the Yankees might be better off pursuing other options, such as these four relievers.

4. Arodys Vizcaino

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Though Vizcaino underwent shoulder surgery at the start of the season, he's still one of the top free agent relievers heading into the offseason. Since the start of the 2017 season, he's posted an impressive 2.53 ERA and 170 ERA+ while nailing down 31 saves for the Braves. He could be a strong addition to take over closing duties once Chapman opts out.

3. Ken Giles

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The Yankees could easily go out and get Giles right now as part of a package deal with starter Marcus Stroman, killing two birds with one stone. Giles has another year of control after 2019 and has been an elite closer this year, logging 13 saves and a 1.45 ERA with 15.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He could easily fill the void left by Chapman without forcing the Yankees to explore the free agent market.

2. Bringing Dellin Betances Back

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Betances has been a fixture of the Yankees' bullpen since he started pitching in relief regularly back in 2014. He's slated to hit free agency this year, and New York could bring him back on a much friendlier deal than what Chapman will get, especially after his ongoing injury woes. He's handled closing duties before, so it wouldn't be much trouble to move him into that role. Or perhaps he stays as a setup man while Zack Britton shifts? He's also struck out 100 or more batters in each of his five full seasons as a reliever. If he can rebound from his injury that's kept him out in 2019, he'd be the perfect replacement.

1. Brad Hand

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A trade for Brad Hand would provide the Yankees with a strong closer who's under contract until the end of 2020 with a club option for 2021. Hand leads the AL with 25 saves in 26 opportunities in 2019 and hasn't finished a season with an ERA above 3.00 since 2015, when he was a part-time starter for the Padres. The Yankees have the prospects to swing a deal for him, and he'd fill in perfectly as the closer in the absence of Chapman