Veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman and the Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million contract for 2025, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. The team has not confirmed the agreement and a physical examination is still pending.
Chapman still throws the ball at tremendous speed and delivers a potentially devastating left-arm power out of the bullpen. His fastball, which reached up to 105 mph in 2024, averaged just under 99 mph and contributed to a 37.1% strikeout rate, which was in the 99th percentile in MLB.
Overall, he posted a 5-5 record with 19 saves and a 3.79 ERA in 68 games for the Pirates in 2024, his fourth team in the last three seasons. The 36-year-old struck out 98 batters in 61 2/3 innings with Pittsburgh, holding opponents to a .168 expected average, which was in the 99th percentile in MLB.
While Chapman’s triple-digit fastball remains his trademark, it also remains just one tool in an impressive repertoire. It also features a power sinker and a power slider that produced 2024 whiff rates of 32% and 31%, respectively. However, he also sometimes has problems with his control, a problem that has plagued him throughout his career. The Wild resulted in a 14.4% walk rate, which was among the worst in MLB last season.
For his career, the seven-time All-Star has 335 saves and a save percentage of 87.5, both of which rank third among active pitchers.
