Aroldis Chapman ‘would love’ to play for Team USA at 2017 WBC

Aroldis Chapman has yet to play a regular season game for the New York Yankees as he serves a 30-game suspension due to his role in a domestic incident in the offseason, but he already has his eye on joining another team.

Chapman, a native of Cuba, recently became a U.S. citizen and is expressing an interest in representing Team USA at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

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Changes are coming in Cuba, as evidence by president Barack Obama’s recent visit, but there are still pillars from the communist regime that remains in power that aren’t ready to fall yet.

The Cuban national team is keeping its policy that only players that play in Cuba are up for selection to international tournaments. That means MLB stars like Chapman, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Abreu won’t be on the WBC roster.

Since that’s the case, Chapman told ESPN.com’s Marly Rivera he wants to be considered to represent for his new home country:

“I am a U.S. citizen; I can play for Team USA.” 

“If [Leyland] invites me, I would love to go,” Chapman said. “I can close, but I can also go to the bullpen and throw the seventh or the eighth inning — whatever they need.”

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His talent – Chapman has 145 saves and a 1.90 ERA in 255 2/3 innings since becoming a closer in 2012 – is undeniable. But with Wade Davis, Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Miller and Trevor Rosenthal also candidates for late-inning relief roles, Chapman’s inclusion on the American squad is far from a sure thing.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr