Former Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman finally says what he really thinks about Yankees

Chicago Cubs fans love to re-hash Joe Maddon's usage of Aroldis Chapman during the 2016 World Series - but few question the impact the fire-balling southpaw had on the club. He was lights-out down the stretch and answered the call at every turn come the postseason.

In the regular season, Chapman slammed the door time and time again as the summer wore on in Wrigleyville, posting a 1.01 ERA in 28 appearances, while averaging a ridiculous 15.5 strikeouts per nine. Come the playoffs, he punched out 21 batters in 15 2/3 innings - but by the end, was running on fumes.

Chicago sent a package headlined by top prospect Gleyber Torres to the New York Yankees that July in exchange for Chapman, who promptly re-joined the Yankees that December, re-signing with the team via a five-year, $86 million deal in free agency. Given he went on to spend seven years in the Bronx, one might assume he has fond memories of his time there - but that's not the case.

“No way. Not even dead. If I were told that I was being traded to New York, I’d pack my things and go home. I’ll retire right on the spot if that happens. I’m not crazy. Never again … I dealt with a lot of disrespect there.”

Now, the timing is pretty perfect for Chapman, who agreed to a one-year extension with the Boston Red Sox before the season even ended that includes a vesting option for 2027. Dunking on their most hated rival sure won't hurt his standing with Red Sox Nation - but he's on firmly solid ground after a dominant '25 campaign that saw the lefty pitch to a 1.17 ERA in 67 appearances.

Yankees fans grab their pitchforks over Aroldis Chapman's comments

That comment set Yankees fans ablaze - with many laying waste to the 37-year-old online.

Cubs fans may not remember Chapman's final appearance all that fondly - in fact, I'm sure more than a few of us still have nightmarish flashbacks to Rajai Davis' game-tying homer off Chapman in Game 7. But at least we're not drawing potshots from him years after he suited up for us like the Yankees, right?