Red Sox Bolster Bullpen with Veteran Lefty Aroldis Chapman
Veteran Relievers Adds Firepower to Boston’s Bullpen Arsenal
The Boston Red Sox have fortified their bullpen, adding veteran left-hander Aroldis Chapman to the mix. The deal, reportedly a one-year contract worth $10.75 million, brings Chapman’s considerable talents to Fenway Park and addresses a glaring need for power arms, especially left-handed ones.
Artic, “He’s not really closer material these days, though, as he hasn’t posted an ERA under 3.00 since 2019 and his last season as a full-time closer was 2021, when he saved 30 games for the Yankees,”
“[Chapman] iterally, [He] turns 37 in February and while he no longer reaches triple digits on every pitch, his fastball still averaged 98.7 mph, ” wrote Schoenfield. “[He] racked up 98 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings for the Pirates. His biggest change over the past two seasons is mixing in a sinker a lot more often than simply relying on his four-seamer/slider/splitter.”
“Doing that hasn’t helped him cut down on his walks, though — he still averaged 5.7 walks per nine innings and hasn’t been under 5.0 in a full season since 2019. That makes Chapman a difficult pitcher to completely trust as your ninth-inning reliever and pushes him into more of a setup role.”
While not the dominant, “light’s out” closer he once was during his peak with the New York Yankees, Chapman still brings a powerful fastball, a wealth of experience, and a proven track record of high-leverage success. The Red Sox, who struggled to lock down win in street the.. late innings last season, will likely rely on Chapman to solidify the eighth inning.
With both Chris Martin, ” Jansen leaving via free agency,
The Red Sox have..several options to consider
.
As the offseason progresses, the Red Sox could enter.. the market
for an elite closer like
Artic, “top-tier closer like Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott or Jeff Hoffman through free agency.” or look
at their in-house options
Artic, “They also have an in-house closer candidate in Liam Hendriks
Artic, “but Hendriks comes with plenty of questions since he hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 2023”
Overall, the Chapman signing provides
Artic, “a flexibility
as he could serve as a setup
man or a potential backup
Artic, “closer.”
It could signal
the beginning street
of an active offseason
forArtic, “a massive
offseason
for
the Red street Sox..
What are the potential benefits of signing Aroldis Chapman for the Red Sox?
## Red Sox Bolster Bullpen with Veteran Lefty: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing the big news out of Fenway Park, the Red Sox signing veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman.
Joining me to break down this move is baseball analyst, [Guest Name].
**[Guest Name],** Thanks for being here.
**Guest:** My pleasure, thanks for having me.
**Host:** Let’s start with the obvious: This is a big name acquisition for the Red Sox. What does Chapman bring to the table?
**Guest:** Chapman is a proven commodity. He’s got a career ERA of 2.63 and over 335 saves. Those numbers speak for themselves. He’ll immediately add some firepower to the Red Sox bullpen, something they desperately needed.
**Host:** Absolutely. This signing comes at a crucial time with Kenley Jansen entering free agency. Is Chapman a potential replacement for Jansen as the closer?
**Guest:** That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? While Chapman has closing experience – he saved 30 games for the Yankees back in 2021 [[1](https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-red-sox-agree-with-aroldis-chapman-on-one-year-10-75-million-deal)] – he’s seen some struggles lately. His ERA hasn’t been under 3.00 since 2019. He turns 37 in February, so it’s fair to wonder if he still has
what it takes to be a lights-out closer at this stage of his career [[1](https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-red-sox-agree-with-aroldis-chapman-on-one-year-10-75-million-deal)].
**Host:** Interesting point. So perhaps more of a set-up role is in store for him?
**Guest:** I think that’s certainly a possibility. The Red Sox desperately needs left-handed relief help. Chapman provides that, and his experience and power arm could be valuable in late innings regardless of the specific role he’s assigned.
**Host:** That’s a great perspective.
[Guest Name], thanks for lending your expertise.
**Guest:** My pleasure, anytime.
