Aaron Boone has heard enough about Aroldis Chapman wanting an apology.
The Yankees manager made it clear Friday that nobody in the New York organization owes Chapman anything, and the idea of asking general manager Brian Cashman to apologize for how the 2022 season ended is dead on arrival.
Chapman, now closing for the Boston Red Sox, told reporters Thursday that an apology from Cashman would have to be part of any conversation about returning to the Yankees. Boone was asked about the demand. His response was blunt.
“No,” Boone said when asked if Chapman deserved an apology.
Why This Story Still Has Legs
The 2022 mess was real. Chapman was left off the Yankees’ ALDS roster against Cleveland after missing a mandatory workout. He had spent that season dealing with an infected tattoo, losing his closer role, and posting a 4.46 ERA. The relationship between Chapman and the organization had been rocky for months, and the missed workout was the breaking point.
“At the end of the day, he wasn’t at the workout,” Boone said. “I made the decision based on a lot of things, and I thought, to leave him off. I thought that was the right thing to do at the time. Chappy apologized, and really, it’s water under the bridge for me.”
Boone went on to praise his relationship with Chapman today, calling him “Chappy” and saying they still have a good relationship.
“But the ending of the 22 season was what it was. He wasn’t there, and I made the decision that I didn’t think it was best for him to come back at that point. He maintained that he was throwing and would be ready as the playoffs unfolded that year. But ultimately, I made that decision.”
The Trade Implications
Why is this even being discussed in June 2026? Because Chapman is having a monster year in Boston. He has a 0.46 ERA and 13 saves. He is also on an expiring deal and could very plausibly hit the trade market in July if the Red Sox fall out of contention.
The Yankees have a closer’s role that needs reinforcement. Bullpen help is always on the shopping list at the deadline. On talent alone, Chapman would be a fit.
The history makes it impossible. Cashman previously questioned whether Chapman was fully committed in 2022. Chapman is now publicly demanding an apology. Boone is telling reporters Chapman is not owed one. The bridge is on fire from both ends.
Boston is not handing Chapman to the Yankees anyway. The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has its own gravitational pull on any deal between the two teams. Combined with the Chapman situation, the chances of a return to the Bronx are basically zero.
What Boone’s Comments Actually Mean
This is Boone backing his front office in public. That matters. He could have given a non-answer. He could have ducked the question. Instead, he said no, clearly, on the record, and made it impossible for anyone to misinterpret where the Yankees stand.
The clearest read on the situation is that Chapman is a free agent next winter. Some team will throw real money at him after the year he is having in Boston. That team will not be the Yankees. New York is moving on, and Boone made sure everyone understood that on Friday.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
