NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Here we are, once again, at the crossroads of the lore of George Steinbrenner and the pragmatism of his son. The pugnacious spirit of The Boss still echoes through the hallways at Yankee Stadium, though it grows fainter and fainter each year as Hal Steinbrenner becomes more confident in his own approach.

If George were still around, there would be little doubt that a free agent the Yankees desired, like Aroldis Chapman, would be in pinstripes again. But with Hal, the equation has changed.

The market for Chapman seems to be shrinking, and the Yankees, instead of just stepping up with an offer the closer can’t refuse, seem to be playing musical chairs, winding down the clock so when the band stops they can sign him on their terms -- albeit still lucrative ones.

Chapman is their No. 1 target, but he is not a necessity as the Yankees try to reload and rebuild, all at once. Still, the Yankees want to put Chapman behind Dellin Betances at the end of games. With the Giants out (having signed Mark Melancon), the Cubs reportedly not interested in bringing him back, the Marlins in on him but reportedly with more of a fascination for Kenley Jansen, the Yankees -- as well as everyone’s favorite winter club, the mystery team -- are in place to get him.

But it seems hard to believe they will go six years -- or even five, for that matter.

“The attraction to him is we know he can pitch in New York and there is no draft pick attached,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “Then it just comes down to money and terms. We will compete to a certain level and then we’ll see if that is good enough. If it is not, that is why we are staying in contact with all of them.”

Last year, the Yankees took on Chapman's baggage, and came away from the experience wanting more. They traded for Chapman over the winter, despite the domestic violence allegation still hanging over his head. He would serve a 30-day suspension, pitch three strong months of relief, and then be flipped to the Cubs for a package that included super prospect Gleyber Torres.

While Cashman said the Yankees are in on Jansen, too, he seems an unlikely fit since he would cost the club the 17th pick in the draft. At this time in Yankees history, it seems doubtful they would give that up for a closer.

With the starting pitching market so thin, Cashman sounded pessimistic that the Yankees would add anyone to their current starting staff of Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and five young guys (Luis Severino, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Adam Warren).

If it all breaks right, the Chapman negotiation will become more of a tug-of-war the Yankees ultimately win by outlasting everyone.

Chapman told ESPN Deportes’ Marly Rivera that he would like a six-year deal. It is hard to imagine the Yankees giving the 28-year-old Chapman a contract that runs through 2022. The question lingers: Will practical Hal give way to the impulses his father ingrained into some of the Yankees' fan base?

There have been cracks in the premise that Hal isn't his father, most notably when he reversed himself in 2013, forsaking a chance to duck under the luxury tax and instead spending nearly half a billion dollars on Tanaka, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury. McCann and Beltran are gone now, and Yankees fans can only wish Ellsbury would follow -- taking the four years remaining on his $153 million contract with him.

Hal -- nervous about the onslaught of bad publicity for lowering payroll at the time -- might have learned from that experience. The Yankees are in on Chapman. They want Chapman. But if it isn't a deal that makes sense, they sound as if they will move on.

Hal seems to be more confident in his plan. Cashman has always preached discipline. But how will it play out?