CC had ‘good sense’ Chapman would return

NEW YORK — Aroldis Chapman and the Yankees were discussing dollars and terms late into the final days of the Winter Meetings, but CC Sabathia said that he received a few hints that there was a deal in the works.

Sabathia said that he spoke to Chapman at David Ortiz’s charity golf tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, two weeks ago. The Yanks veteran said that he flew home confident that he’d be sharing a clubhouse with the closer in 2017.

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“I saw Chappy at Big Papi’s golf event about two weeks ago, and I got a good sense that he was coming back then,” Sabathia said. “Just talking to Dellin [Betances], [Chapman] and Dellin talk a lot, and I talk to Dellin all the time. He had a good experience here, wanted to play here, and I felt good about him coming back.”

Chapman agreed to a five-year, $86 million deal with the Yankees that includes an opt-out clause following the third season. The deal has not yet been officially announced by the club, but Chapman was at Yankee Stadium earlier this week to take his physical, and he posted some photos of the visit on social media.

“I’m excited to have Chappy back,” Sabathia said. “He was obviously a great piece for us and went on to do his thing in the World Series, but it’s great to have him back. It’s going to help our bullpen obviously, and I think it’s going to help Dellin and [Tyler Clippard] and those guys at the back end …

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