Where Are They Now? 2005 Yankee Heroes Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small

As soon as media outlets started reporting that Shawn Chacon was traded to the New York Yankees for two prospects, reporters and critics started to rip the Yankees apart. They claimed that Chacon was just going to hold up in the Yankees rotation for a bit like temporary starters. 

Enter Shawn Chacon vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the first time in pinstripes. He did not allow a single run through six innings. Silence goes over the doubters. 

He would end the regular season with a 7-3 record and a sub-3 ERA with 2.85. In the postseason, Chacon was thought of a possible bullpen pitcher, but he would be the go-to guy in Game 4 of the ALDS. The Yankees were down in the series to the team that Chacon defeated in his Yankee debut. 

He came up clutch and was able to hold the Angels to only two runs. The Yankees would win that game before being eliminated in the next game. 

Aaron Small: The 2005 Season

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Pitcher Aaron Small #31 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day at Legends Field on February 24, 2006 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Aaron Small had been all around the Major Leagues before working his way up to the New York Yankees in 2005. He was just suppose to be a spot starter since the Yankees were stricken with injuries in the rotation. 

The first start would be a complete game shut-out against the Oakland Athletics. Small would go on to win 10 games for the Yankees. So much for being a spot starter! Small had joined a class that Tommy John and Howie Krist were a part of. 

Joe Torre believed that Small was a big part of the team's late success as they made a playoff push. Torre was hoping to have Small as a clutch player again in 2006, but he injured himself and was not the same again. 

The Yankees designated him for assignment, where he would spend the rest of the season in Triple-A. 

Shawn Chacon: The 2005 Season

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Pitcher Shawn Chacon #39 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out Vladimir Guerrero #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to end the sixth inning after two runs were scored in Game Four of the American League Division S

As soon as media outlets started reporting that Shawn Chacon was traded to the New York Yankees for two prospects, reporters and critics started to rip the Yankees apart. They claimed that Chacon was just going to hold up in the Yankees rotation for a bit like temporary starters. 

Enter Shawn Chacon vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the first time in pinstripes. He did not allow a single run through six innings. Silence goes over the doubters. 

He would end the regular season with a 7-3 record and a sub-3 ERA with 2.85. In the postseason, Chacon was thought of a possible bullpen pitcher, but he would be the go-to guy in Game 4 of the ALDS. The Yankees were down in the series to the team that Chacon defeated in his Yankee debut. 

He came up clutch and was able to hold the Angels to only two runs. The Yankees would win that game before being eliminated in the next game. 

Aaron Small: Baseball After The 2005 Season

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PEORIA, AZ - FEBRUARY 23: Pitcher Aaron Small #31 of the Seattle Mariners poses during Photo Day on February 23, 2007 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Yankees let Aaron Small walk after 2006. He was not the same after the injury and it wasn't worth the risk of draining money on a player that couldn't perform at a high level. They already had Carl Pavano under contract for stuff like that. 

Seattle gave Aaron Small a contract to play in the minors for the Mariners, but also compete for a big League spot in Spring Training. But he couldn't cut it and was released a few months later. 

That would be the final straw for Small and he decided to retire from baseball. 

Shawn Chacon: Baseball After The 2005 Season

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HOUSTON - JUNE 13: Pitcher Shawn Chacon #30 of the Houston Astros during Interleague MLB action against the New York Yankees on June 13, 2008 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Shawn Chacon was thought of possibly being an ace for the Yankees in 2006, but he had arm troubles which landed him on the disabled list. He was not the same and the Yankees dealt him at the Trade Deadline for Craig Wilson to the Pirates. 

Chacon was average at most with the Pirates. He wasn't surprising anyone or pitching to win a championship, especially with that team. He would stay with the Pirates through 2007 until he hit the free agent market.

The Astros went out on a limb and signed him for a year, but he wouldn't last as he would get into a confrontation with Ed Wade. That marked the end of whatever he could have had with the Astros and he was let go on waivers in late June.  

Chacon stayed in baseball as he pitched for the Newark Bears for a month or so. The Oakland Athletics would reach out to him in June 2009 and signed him to a minor league deal. 

Aaron Small: Life After Baseball

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 9: Starting pitcher Aaron Small #31 of the New York Yankees tips his cap to the crowd as he is replaced in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox on September 9, 2005 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Th

At the final Old Timer's Day in the House That Ruth Built, Aaron Small was welcomed by fans to the sound thousands of people clapping for him. This guy was a pitcher that went through the minor leagues and worked for a long time to find success. 

Fans were also clapping because six weeks prior to the celebrations, Small was in a coma for eight days due to encephalitis. The Yankees Universe almost lost a hero, but with some divine intervention he was saved. Well, at least that is who he may be thanking.

Small is now a leader at Fairview Baptist Tabernacle in Sweetwater Tennessee. He has remained close to his family and his faith since retiring. 

Shawn Chacon: Life After Baseball

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BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Shawn Chacon #32 poses during Pittsburgh Pirates photo day on February 25, 2007 at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Lets just get down to it. There hasn't been much upside to Chacon's life since the altercation. 

Here are a few of the unfortunate incidents that have happened to the former Yankee hero since his fight with the Astros' general manager. 

Shawn Chacon was arrested in late 2009 at a Bowling Alley in Colorado. He reportedly has unpaid gambling markers in Nevada. He also now faces felony charges due to badly written checks to Caesars Palace in March 2009. 

Welcome In The Bronx?

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BALTIMORE - JUNE 04: Starting pitcher Aaron Small #31 of the New York Yankees waits to be pulled by manager Joe Torre #6 in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 4, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles

Fans must be very thankful for the success of the New York Yankees that makes them so world known and popular. It is players like Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon that have contributed to the team's success without making themselves superstars. 

If either one of them were to show up at Yankee Stadium for a game, they would probably get a warm welcome from fans. Chacon may have to keep his distance due to recent issues, but I am pretty sure Yankee fans will still express some sort of gratitude for 2005.