The Boston Red Sox made their first major move of the offseason on Tuesday, adding free-agent reliever Aroldis Chapman to the back end of their bullpen.
The Red Sox are in agreement with Chapman on a one-year, $10.75 million deal, pending a physical, a league source confirmed to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Chapman, who turns 37 in February, posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 37 percent strikeout rate along with 14 saves in 68 appearances in 2024 for the Pittsburgh Pirates after taking over the closer’s role late in the season.
The veteran lefty adds more experience to the back end of the Boston bullpen as the Red Sox entered the offseason with closer Kenley Jansen and set-up man Chris Martin hitting free agency. The Red Sox added veteran lefty reliever Justin Wilson earlier in the offseason, but prior to the Chapman deal, the team’s only options at closer were Liam Hendriks, who spent last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Justin Slaten, a rookie coming off a strong year as a late-inning leverage arm. Chapman figures to be the top option for the role at the moment.
At the end of the season, manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted that adding velocity and swing-and-miss stuff to the bullpen would be a priority. Chapman is past his prime, but he’s still been a solid reliever in recent years though his command has been suspect at times.
Chapman is one of the league’s hardest throwers with an average 97.8 mph fastball and 99.8 mph sinker last year along with a 37 percent strikeout rate since 2021. However, his 14.7 percent walk rate is among the worst in the league for relievers of his caliber. Given the Red Sox finished with one of the league’s worst infield defenses last season, the number of baserunners Chapman allows is a cause for concern.
Chapman began his career in Cincinnati in 2010. He was traded to the New York Yankees in December 2015, but sat out the first part of the 2016 season after he was suspended for 30 games for violating the league’s domestic violence protocols. Later that season he was traded to the Cubs, then signed with the Yankees in free agency and was a three-time All-Star in his six seasons there. His 335 career saves are third on the active saves list behind Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.
The Red Sox 40-man roster is currently at 40 so the team will need to make a move to clear a roster spot to add Chapman once the deal is official.
(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
