BOSTON _ The closer who signed the biggest contract ever given to a relief pitcher is no longer a closer.
Joe Girardi temporally pulled the plug on Aroldis Chapman Saturday, saying he would use the struggling left-hander "at any point" in the game to try and get him on track.
"He's been scuffling for the last 10 days, two weeks," Girardi said. "And I just thought for us to get him on track maybe the best way would be to move him around a little bit until he gets going and then when we get him going like I believe he will get going, there's a good chance I'll put him right back in that closer's role and manipulate the other three guys."
In the meantime, Girardi said, the closer duties will be shared by Dellin Betances and David Robertson, depending on "matchups."
As of Friday afternoon, Girardi was saying Chapman was "our closer," but that night the 29-year-old made it four straight poor outings, giving up two eighth-inning runs in a 9-6 loss to the Red Sox.
The outing made it three straight appearances in which Chapman, signed to a five-year, $86 million free-agent deal in the offseason, allowed two runs. In his last four outings Chapman has a 14.54 ERA, a stretch in which he's allowed five hits and five walks over 41/3 innings. He has a 9.95 ERA and 2.68 WHIP against the Red Sox this season, walking 10 and allowing seven hits over 61/3 innings.
Girardi said the club has eliminated the possibility that Chapman, who continues to routinely hit or surpass 100 mph with his fastball, is hiding an injury or tipping his pitches.
"We've looked at everything," Girardi said. "And I really think it comes down to his location. He's been up in the zone more."
Girardi spoke with Chapman earlier in the day to discuss the demotion.
"He said he's here to help us win, whatever it takes," Girardi said. "And he knows that he needs to get back on track and that he's scuffled a little bit, but he said I'm willing to do anything, I just want to win."
