Aroldis Chapman may be pitching better than ever, but that hasn’t stopped trade buzz from swirling around the veteran reliever as the MLB trade deadline approaches. The 37-year-old southpaw is having a career resurgence with the Boston Red Sox, and his dominant performance has made him an attractive target for contending teams.
Chapman is posting one of the best statistical seasons of his career with Boston, boasting a 1.18 ERA across 41 appearances. He’s struck out 58 batters in 38.0 innings, walked just 10, and is averaging 99.1 mph on his fastball, all while holding opponents to two home runs and a .144 batting average, numbers that showcase his return to elite form.
How Has Chapman Transformed His Game This Season?
This has been a renaissance year for Chapman, who despite still throwing close to 100 mph, had an ERA exceeding 3.70 over the last two years. That resurgence makes Zachary Rymer at Bleacher Report think Chapman could be trade bait.
The Red Sox are in the mix for the Wild Card and have Garrett Whitlock and Jordan Hicks behind Chapman, both of whom could be ready to take over the closer role should Chapman be traded. This depth gives Boston flexibility as they weigh their options.
The most realistic scenario for a trade revolves around the Red Sox falling out of contention. Boston is three games back in the AL East and one game up for the second Wild Card spot, positioning them right on the playoff bubble.
What Would It Take for Boston to Trade Chapman?
If the Red Sox go on a skid, Chapman is likely gone. He’d be a wildly valuable trade chip that could be dealt to a contender that could use a big arm that can either close games out or be utilized in high-leverage late-inning situations.
However, if the Red Sox are sniffing contention, it wouldn’t make sense to deal him. Now that starters rarely go past six innings, much less seven or eight, bullpen depth is at a premium in the playoffs. Chapman’s ability to dominate hitters in crucial moments makes him invaluable to a team with postseason aspirations.
If Boston is in a position to make the Wild Card or sneak in with a division title, it makes no sense to deal a fireball reliever who can strike out the side on his best days.
However, if Boston sinks over the next two weeks, there are plenty of teams that’d be happy to have him on board.
The Phillies’ pen is their weak link (anyone else remember how they imploded against the Mets in the playoffs last year?), and a high-leverage arm would be a welcome addition.
The Dodgers must be included in almost any discussion because they are willing to spend money, make moves, and do anything possible to maximize their championship chances while Shohei Ohtani is in his prime.
The Tigers make sense since they lack bullpen depth, and Chapman’s expiring deal would be palatable for a team that isn’t going to break the bank on payroll.
However, this is all moot if the Red Sox go on a run and stay in contention in the surprisingly competitive AL East.