Red Sox Sign Aroldis Chapman to One-Year Deal

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman, pending a physical. The deal, which guarantees the Wasserman client $10.75 million, will require the Red Sox to make a corresponding move to clear space on their full 40-man roster once it becomes official.

Chapman, now set to join his fifth team since 2022, may not be the elite closer he once was with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees, but he remains an effective, if somewhat unpredictable, reliever. In the 2023 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chapman posted a 3.79 ERA over 61 2/3 innings. Initially signed as a setup man for David Bednar, Chapman stepped into the closer role late in the season, recording 22 holds and 14 saves while only blowing five leads.

Despite nearing his 37th birthday, Chapman continues to be one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the league. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.8 MPH, and his sinker hit an impressive 99.8 MPH. Although Chapman is no longer alone in terms of velocity, his arm speed remains exceptional for a left-handed pitcher. Among southpaws with at least five innings pitched, only Jose A. Ferrer and Gregory Soto threw faster four-seamers. Chapman's sinker velocity was the highest among lefties and ranked fourth overall in MLB, behind only Emmanuel Clase, Justin Martinez, and Seth Halvorsen.

​Chapman's addition to the Red Sox bullpen brings a mix of veteran experience and high-octane pitching, which Boston hopes will bolster their relief corps in the upcoming season. As the team navigates their roster adjustments, fans will be eager to see how Chapman performs in a Red Sox uniform.