Aroldis Chapman is about to add another team to the long list. The Boston Red Sox closer is expected to be traded at the August 3 MLB Trade Deadline, and it would mark his eighth different organization across a remarkable career.
Per multiple reports, Chapman is expected to join his eighth team and potentially make his sixth different postseason appearance. The Red Sox are expected to be among the most active sellers at the deadline, and Chapman is their most valuable trade piece by a comfortable margin.
The numbers tell you why. Chapman has 17 saves with a 0.46 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 19.2 innings this season. That is elite closer work, even at his age. The fastball still has 99 mph velocity. The slider still misses bats. The deception is still there.
Chapman has been the steadiest part of a Red Sox bullpen that has otherwise been forgettable. Boston is around .500 and not really in the AL East race. The front office knows it. The roster is older than the playoff race demands, and Chapman is one of several veterans who could bring back useful prospects.
The market for elite closers at the deadline is always strong. Contending teams in tight playoff races would love to add a guy who throws 99, can pitch four out of every five days, and has been in October for a decade. The Phillies, Braves, Astros, and Dodgers have all been mentioned as potential landing spots. Each of those teams has at least one weakness in their bullpen that Chapman would fix immediately.
The wrinkle with Chapman is his contract. He is signed to a multi-year deal that limits some of his trade flexibility. The receiving team would need to absorb the remaining money or work out a contract restructure. That is the kind of detail that gets ironed out at the deadline. It is not a deal-breaker.
The Red Sox also have other pieces on the move. All three catchers on the Boston roster (Connor Wong, Carlos Narvaez, and Mickey Gasper) are reportedly generating trade interest from multiple teams. Boston is receptive to dealing Wong specifically, who has served as the team’s third catcher this season. Catcher trades are unusual at the deadline, but Boston has the depth to spare.
The Red Sox just sent Brayan Bello down to Triple-A, which is another sign that the roster is in transition. The franchise that won the World Series in 2018 has been chasing that magic ever since. Right now, they are admitting they are not contenders this year.
For Chapman, this is just another stop in a Hall of Fame-caliber career. He has pitched for the Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Rangers, Pirates, Royals, and Red Sox. He has been on playoff teams in most of those stops. He has been the closer of a World Series winner in 2016 with the Cubs.
The eighth team will get an immediate upgrade to their bullpen, regardless of what else happens at the deadline. Chapman walks into any locker room as the experienced veteran who has been there before. He pitches in October. He pitches under pressure. He pitches with the lights on.
The MLB Trade Deadline is just under two months away. Boston has time to find the right deal. Chapman has time to keep racking up saves and proving he is worth the price. The contender that lands him gets a legitimate weapon for the playoff push.
Number eight is coming. The only question now is who it will be.
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.
