The Boston Red Sox made a move Tuesday, adding a left-handed reliever to their bullpen. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Red Sox have agreed to terms with Aroldis Chapman on a one-year deal worth $10.75 million.
Chapman just completed his 15th year in the Majors and the Red Sox will be his seventh team. The Cuban has an ERA of 2.63 since his debut in 2010. In 2024, at age 36, he posted a 3.79 ERA over 68 games and 61 2/3 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also earned saves in 14 games.
Those aren’t extraordinary numbers for a reliever, but Chapman has something that most relievers over 35 (or any age) don’t: a fireball. His speed of over 100 mph is what has always distinguished him as a bullpen arm, and he could still throw at that speed for the Pirates in 2024. Additionally, he has been able to maintain a high strikeout rate, 14.9 per nine. innings in 2024.
This is exactly what the Red Sox need. They finished the 2024 season with a 4.39 bullpen ERA, 24th in the majors. Their bullpen ended up being one of their biggest issues heading into the 2024 season, which is why rebuilding their reliever corps appears to be one of their top priorities this winter. Their only other Major League signing of the offseason came in November, when they signed left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to a one-year, $2.25 million contract.
