Yankees' Aroldis Chapman focused on health, not fight for closer role

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Though Aaron Boone has said Clay Holmes will serve in a variety of roles once Aroldis Chapman returns from the injured list, the veteran closer isn’t sweating it one way or the other.

“I don't see it that way,” Chapman said Tuesday through his interpreter, asked if he feels he’s “lost” the closer’s job given the way Holmes has performed so far. “I'm past that point in my career in which I would fight for a role, for the closer role, I've already gone through that. When I got to the Major Leagues [full time in 2012], they gave me the opportunity to close and I took advantage of the opportunity. Pretty much the same thing is happening to [Holmes]. If he has that role, it is because he is doing well.”

Chapman, on the IL since May 24 with left Achilles tendinitis, struggled before landing on the IL, allowing runs in five straight outings. Holmes has been the AL’s best reliever, posting a 0.55 ERA in 31 games. He’s gone 11-for-12 in save chances, the one blown save coming Monday night in what would be a 4-2 Yankees’ victory. When Holmes allowed a run, it snapped a 29-game consecutive scoreless outing streak, a club record (he had broken Mariano Rivera’s 28-game streak, the previous record, last weekend in Toronto).

Chapman, who is slated to make a rehab appearance this weekend with Double-A Somerset after getting through a 21-pitch live BP session early Tuesday afternoon at the club’s minor league complex, said health is his main focus.

“I am here, trying to recover, come back, be well, healthy and help the team in any way, in any role,” Chapman said. “[Holmes] is doing an excellent job right now and I think he deserves the role that he has.”

IKF “better” but sits again

Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who felt tightness in his left hamstring scoring a run in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 4-0 victory in Toronto, sat a third straight game Tuesday night, though the infielder said he anticipated being available off the bench to pinch hit or pinch run if necessary.

“I’m ready to play today,” Kiner-Falefa said, understanding why the Yankees didn’t want to rush him back and risk aggravating the hamstring into a longer term issue. “I was good to go yesterday and today I feel better . . . [but] the smartest thing for us is to take it slow.”

Gleyber Torres started at short in his place.

German set to go

Domingo German, who started the season on the IL with a right shoulder impingement, will officially have his 30-day rehab clock start Wednesday when he takes the mound for Class-A Tampa.

“Very exciting to finally getting game action, it’s been a long time rehabbing and doing everything I needed to do to get back to a point where I could compete again,” German said Tuesday through his interpreter. “Looking forward to continuing the process and looking forward to joining the team at some point.”

With no injuries to the rotation to this point, German, unless the Yankees choose to send him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to stay stretched out, will find himself in the bullpen when he returns.

“Pitching out of the bullpen has never bothered me,” German said. “Wherever the team needs me, I’m more than happy to find a way to help.”