Report: Yankees considering signing Chapman to extension

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could take one of his biggest trade chips off the board should his team remain in the playoff race heading into the non-waiver trade deadline.

The Yankees are weighing their options as they sit one game under .500, and major-league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the front office is considering signing potential free-agent closer Aroldis Chapman to an extension if they remain competitive.

Rosenthal notes that the Yankees have yet to initiate any discussions with Chapman's representatives, and they could still deal him at the deadline and re-sign him this winter.

Chapman has been excellent in his first year in the Bronx. After missing the first month of the season due to a suspension, the 28-year-old flamethrower has posted a 2.39 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 27 appearances. He's converted 17 saves while striking out 40 over 26 1/3 innings.

Cashman has said he's been having both seller and buyer conversations over the past month and is waiting to see how the team performs over the next two weeks before committing either way.