Free agent left reliever Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox, reports ESPN. He will reportedly succeed Kenley Jansen, who left in free agency after two seasons and 56 saves in Boston. The team hasn't confirmed the signing, but Chapman posted one Photo of yourself wearing a Red Sox hat.
Chapman was ranked 49th CBS Sports' top 50 free agents list this winter, he is considered a pitcher who “continues to get the job done.”
Chapman still throws hard; he still issues a lot of free tickets; he still strikes out a lot of batters; and he still doesn't seem to require the closer to sign. Is there anything new to report here? Perhaps moving further away from the two-pitch pitcher he was at his peak, he now throws four pitches more than 10% of the time: four-seamer, sinker, slider and splitter. Plus, you know the whole thing with this guy.
He's entering his age-37 season but still has a top edge in the missed at-bats department. Last season he posted a 98 strikeout rate in 61 ⅔ innings for the Piratespitching with a 3.79 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Walks remain a problem, as they have been for several years. He issued 39 free passes last season, marking his fourth straight season with over 5.5 BB/9.
Fastball velocity has long been a hallmark of Chapman's, and it remains high – 97.8 mph on the fastball and 99.8 mph on the sinker last season – even if he doesn't have nearly the commanding presence he did in the mid-2010s .
Although Chapman ranks 16th with 335 career saves, he has shown he is willing to work in roles other than closer. He has won a World Series as both a leadoff closer (2016). Boy) and in a setup role (2023). ranger), who appeared in the playoffs in eight different postseasons.
The move gives the Red Sox more options for left-handed hitters out of the bullpen, where Justin Wilson and Brennan Bernardino were currently the only southpaws deployed.
As he approaches his late 30s, expect the unpredictable Chapman to remain inconsistent but also pile up the strikeouts.
