The Boston Red Sox fan base has been on pins and needles waiting for the potential announcement of a Juan Soto signing.
The team did make a move on Tuesday morning — though those supporting Boston will have to wait a tad longer on possible Soto news.
Reports indicate that the Red Sox have inked power left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman to a 1-year deal worth approximately $10.75 million.
There was a real need for the Red Sox to improve their pen. Boston ranked in the bottom 10 of MLB in bullpen ERA. Additionally, there was a concerted effort to add a proven lefty to combat some of the power bats they see in the AL East.
Chapman’s decorated 15-year career has seen him bop across the league to a host of different clubs. He broke into the league as a flamethrower with the Cincinnati Reds. Eventually, he became a member of the New York Yankees after a brief stop in Chicago with the Cubs.
While in New York, Chapman made three All-Star teams. He wasn’t as dominant as he was in Cincinnati. However, he was still a very effective pitcher. Since leaving New York in 2023, he’s pitched for the Royals, Rangers, and most recently, the Pirates.
In 2024, Chapman had a 5-5 record with a 3.79 ERA. He struck out 98 batters in only 61.2 innings. Turning 37 in February, some may worry about his stuff depreciating. However, when diving deeper into his analytic breakdown, this isn’t the case.
In 2024, the 7-time All-Star ranked in the 98th percentile in average fastball velocity (98.7 MPH) and arm extension. Chapman also ranked in the 99th percentile in xBA (.165) and strikeout rate (37.1 percent) for good measure.
The fastball is still very potent, and being refreshed in an environment where the team aims to be a contender should help Chapman’s stuff tick up a smidge further from where it was in a low-pressure situation with the Pirates.
