Aroldis Chapman Is the Best Reliever in Baseball Right Now. The Red Sox Have to Trade Him.
Aroldis Chapman is in the middle of one of the best closer seasons in recent memory. He has a 0.44 ERA. He has 14 saves in 21 appearances. He has converted 28 consecutive saves dating back to last season. He is throwing the ball as well as he has in years.
And the Red Sox have to trade him.
This is not a complicated decision. Boston has been disappointing this season. They are not in playoff position. They are not in real trade-deadline buying territory. The 38-year-old left-hander is on a one-year contract. He becomes a free agent at the end of the season. The window to maximize his return is closing fast.
Industry reporting has Chapman pegged as a 90 percent likelihood to be traded. That number sounds about right. The teams calling are aggressive. The Mariners, the Dodgers, the Phillies, the Cubs, and the Blue Jays all have real bullpen needs and championship windows that demand a closer of Chapman’s caliber.
The Dodgers are the most logical landing spot. They have the deepest farm system. They have the most aggressive front office. Their bullpen has been wobbly. Chapman would slot in as the late-inning weapon they have been missing since Kenley Jansen left.
The return will be significant. A package of two top-15 organizational prospects, including one in the upper levels of the minors, is realistic. If a bidding war develops, Boston could push that to three prospects with the right team.
That is the kind of haul that helps. The Red Sox farm system is decent but not deep. Adding two real prospects in the top half of the system would give them more flexibility for offseason moves.
Some Red Sox fans will push back on this. Boston is technically still in the playoff picture. The wild card is winnable. They could play .580 ball for two months and steal the third spot.
Maybe. But that math requires multiple breaks that have not been showing up. Their offense is inconsistent. Their starting rotation has been hit by injuries. The bullpen behind Chapman is shaky. Even with the closer, this is not a team built to make a deep playoff run.
The smart move is to be a strategic seller. Trade Chapman. Hold onto Triston Casas. Listen on Tanner Houck if a great offer comes in. Use the deadline to set up a stronger 2027.
Chapman also has a personal interest in being moved. He wants to chase a ring before he hangs it up. He is not getting one in Boston this year. A trade to a contender gives him a real shot at his fourth career championship.
The clock is running. The deadline is August 3. Boston has about six weeks to maximize value.
Trade him. Take the best offer. Move on.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
