Article: 3 Possible Trade Destinations for Red Sox Closer Aroldis Chapman

[Alex Mayes]

As we approach the trade deadline, more and more members of the Boston Red Sox are starting to appear on lists of trade candidates. To kick off July, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden published an article after talking to 40 MLB executives and compiling a list of players they think are most likely to be traded. Sitting atop the list of relievers is none other than Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman.

As we all know, Chapman has had a career resurgence since coming to Boston, and if the Red Sox were to trade him at the deadline, he would command a large return package. The last time he was dealt, in 2023, the Rangers sent left-hander Cole Ragans and minor-league outfielder Roni Cabrera. Ragans has turned into a top of the rotation piece for the Royals. At the time of the trade, Chapman was sitting on a 2.35 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched. Currently, he’s sporting a 1.29 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 15 saves over 35 innings pitched. There are plenty of playoff teams that need late-inning relief help, with a few of those desperate for a proven closer. Even if the Red Sox are in contention come the deadline, it may be wise to send Chapman packing to help replenish the talent at both the major and minor league levels. Here are three rumored trade destinations for the 37-year-old closer, and how likely they are to be Chapman's next home.

#3: New York Yankees

Talk about coming full circle. I’ll be honest, I don’t see this trade happening, but out of all the teams currently in the playoff hunt, the Yankees present as a good option for Chapman. They traded for Devin Williams during the offseason and that hasn’t panned out in their favor at all. Then, they declared that Luke Weaver would be their closer moving forward at the end of April, and he has pitched pretty well. He currently has eight saves to go along with his 2.12 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched. New York could be interested in reacquiring Chapman to give them a playoff proven option as the postseason draws near. They won’t have to search very hard to find just how dominant Chapman can be once the calendar flips to October. His career ERA with the Yankees sits at 2.94 and should he continue this run of amazing baseball, another half season in the Bronx could drive it even lower. In reality, don’t expect the Red Sox to send such a valuable piece to their biggest rival, especially if they don't plan on tanking in the second half, but Craig Breslow has proven that he’s not afraid to make deals that cause waves. I also couldn’t see the Yankees sending any players of value to the Red Sox. They have no pitching that is pushing for an MLB spot.

Ultimately, the fit here is better on paper than in practice. To get the Red Sox to help their biggest rival, the Yankees would have to surrender legitimate prospects with long-term potential. Considering Chapman's shaky reputation in New York, this profiles more as a fever dream than an actual possibility.

#2: San Francisco Giants

Breslow could stand to pick up the phone and give Buster Posey another call, as Chapman would be an improvement over the closer-by-committee that the Giants are currently employing. The closer with the most saves, 13, for the Giants is Camilo Doval, who has a 3.03 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 38.2 innings. Second in saves is Ryan Walker (10), but he’s sitting on a 4.64 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 33 innings. The Giants are in a very similar situation to the Red Sox, likely sitting too far out of contention to win their division, but in striking distance of the final wildcard position. Doval may be better suited as a set-up option after he posted a 6.00 ERA in June. Adding someone of the caliber of Chapman to the back of their bullpen would likely push them ahead of a team like the Cardinals in the race. While Bryce Eldridge and Hayden Birdsong are likely still off-limits, pulling a top ten prospect from them probably isn’t out of the question if multiple teams are in on Chapman. The Giants have two pitchers in their top ten currently at Triple-A, so it may be feasible for the Red Sox to bolster their pitching depth while sending Chapman to the Bay Area.

The good news is both teams are intimately familiar with each other's systems after that trade. It's not normally advisable to go back to the same well that just poisoned you, but the Giants are an obvious fit for Chapman.

#1: Philadelphia Phillies

Chapman to the Phillies makes far too much sense. They’ve had four pitchers notch saves for them led by Jordan Romano with eight, Matt Strahm with five, Orion Kerkering with two, and Tanner Banks with one. Romano currently has a 7.28 ERA, while Strahm sits on a 3.67 ERA, Kerkering a 2.41 ERA, and Banks a 3.60 ERA. While Romano leads the team in saves, he went the month of June without adding one to his total. Strahm added three to his total in June, Kerkering added two, while Banks was also shut out. It’s clear the Phillies are operating by a closer-by-committee with two pitchers who are better served in set-up and middle relief roles in Strahm and Kerkering, while Romano and Banks clearly don’t have the trust of anyone making decisions.

As longtime Boston fans know, Dombrowski will wheel and deal as much as possible as he tries to improve his roster, and the closer position is in desperate need of improvement. Top prospect Andrew Painter is likely off the table in discussions, but the Red Sox should be incredibly interested in Philly’s number five prospect Mick Abel. Abel has been part of the rotation in Philadelphia since early June. He’s been knocked around lately—his most recent appearance came on July 2 and he only lasted 1 2/3 innings where he walked five while giving up five earned runs. His ERA has shot up to 5.04 in six games. That being said, he’s incredibly young and he’s going to have some growing pains at the big league level. Bringing him in and pairing him with Garrett Crochet would give Abel another young, sky’s the limit type pitcher to lean on. If Painter would be on the table, then sure that’s the direction you’d go. If he’s not though, a pivot to Abel would be an incredibly bright move for Breslow and company. Would Chapman be enough straight up for Abel? Not a chance. A package of Chapman and Duran ,though? Dombrowski would be salivating at the chance to bolster his closer position and make a fairly significant improvement in the outfield. Breslow needs to be on the phone with him often trying to get this deal done, even if it would cost more than our proposed package here.

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Even if the Red Sox don’t fall completely out of contention as the trade deadline quickly approaches, flipping Aroldis Chapman for young, controllable pitchers is the best step forward. There are enough other closer types internally for the team to replace him for the rest of the season, and it’s possible that Jordan Hicks could find his footing as a closer again. Either way, Aroldis Chapman is going to be the hottest reliever on the market, and the Red Sox need to take advantage of their fortuitous market position.

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[Hitch]

I've mentioned it two or three times in other threads this past week that DD was on Starksville last week stating that the only thing off the table for him at the deadline is moving starting pitching as he needs it all. 

So, unless we blow him away, option 1 is going to be tough. Duran and Chapman is a meaty offer, but I don't think it's the one.

I've thought for a little while, you send him with someone for Eldridge and sort out this long term 1B issue once and for all.

[Duran Is The Man]

i would rather they try to sign Chapman for another year. trading him means giving up on this season. again.

[Bellhorn04]

Trading Chapman would be waving the white flag on 2025, there's no way around that.

[Hitch]

23 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i would rather they try to sign Chapman for another year. trading him means giving up on this season. again.

I get that. But alternatively I'm not sure they have the winning percentage in them to make the post season and Chapman is having a crazy outlier of a season that teams will likely vastly overpay for.

Sometimes you take the opportunities when they present themselves. 

[Bellhorn04]

6 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I get that. But alternatively I'm not sure they have the winning percentage in them to make the post season and Chapman is having a crazy outlier of a season that teams will likely vastly overpay for.

Sometimes you take the opportunities when they present themselves. 

If they trade Chapman they have to go full sell mode, all expiring contracts.

[Hitch]

Just now, Bellhorn04 said:

If they trade Chapman they have to go full sell mode, all expiring contracts.

They really don't, but I hope they do. Bregman aside.

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, Hitch said:

They really don't, but I hope they do. Bregman aside.

There are some signs the team is coming around.  This would be one more kick in the head to the fans IMO.

All depends how they do the next few weeks.

[Hitch]

16 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

There are some signs the team is coming around.  This would be one more kick in the head to the fans IMO.

All depends how they do the next few weeks.

I hope I'm wrong but I don't buy this latest run. They're not playing great teams. The run after the all star break (and the Ray's before it) will tell us plenty.

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I hope I'm wrong but I don't buy this latest run. They're not playing great teams. The run after the all star break (and the Ray's before it) will tell us plenty.

The Sox issue hasn't been a strength of competition issue.  They're 9-3 against the Yankees and Rays.  

They just took 2 of 3 from Cincy and Cincy is an over .500 team.

I'm feeling some optimism.  But of course that can be crushed pretty quickly LOL

[harmony]

Baseball Trade Values assigns Aroldis Chapman a surplus value of $2.2 million:

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades?q=aroldis&page=1

Is that value too low, too high or about right?

[Bellhorn04]

53 minutes ago, harmony said:

Baseball Trade Values assigns Aroldis Chapman a surplus value of $2.2 million:

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades?q=aroldis&page=1

Is that value too low, too high or about right?

This is one case where it's too low, because it's impossible to quantify a value that includes the postseason.

Just think of when Theo Epstein traded one of the top prospects in baseball, Gleyber Torres, for this same player.

[Duran Is The Man]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

If they trade Chapman they have to go full sell mode, all expiring contracts.

and knowing the morons in the Sox FO, they'll trade him for a loser like Gruesome or a never-was pitcher like HIcks.

[dgalehouse]

Trading your All Star closer when you are this close in the race is one of the worst suggestions in quite a while. And that is saying a lot. 

[Soxlover]

Isn’t the brass talk still about beung buyers?

that could easily turn into a major mistake. IMO, more risky than being full blown sellers.

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

There are some signs the team is coming around.  This would be one more kick in the head to the fans IMO.

All depends how they do the next few weeks.

Agree.

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, dgalehouse said:

Trading your All Star closer when you are this close in the race is one of the worst suggestions in quite a while. And that is saying a lot. 

Yeah, I find it surprising how many fans start thinking about selling off so early now.

[Bellhorn04]

7 minutes ago, Soxlover said:

Isn’t the brass talk still about beung buyers?

that could easily turn into a major mistake. IMO, more risky than being full blown sellers.

IN MLB every move is risky and plenty of non-moves are too.

[Hitch]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

The Sox issue hasn't been a strength of competition issue.  They're 9-3 against the Yankees and Rays.  

They just took 2 of 3 from Cincy and Cincy is an over .500 team.

I'm feeling some optimism.  But of course that can be crushed pretty quickly LOL

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing a month or so ago, but after spending time thinking about it, what's more logical? That the Sox can beat the top teams but struggle against the poor? Or that they're just inconsistent (or consistently infuriating, whatever you prefer), and actually, the first half schedule is was easier than the second half and so we can't take any real data from a run of 12 games. 

Also, while we took 2 out of 3 from Cincy that were (barely) over 500, we then lost to the Jays. Which is right on brand - .500 baseball for the last 2/3 years. I really don't see why we should be expecting too much more the rest of the season. And if that is the case - we should sell everything we can and try and make sure this is the last .500 season for a while.

[Soxlover]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

IN MLB every move is risky and plenty of non-moves are too.

Indeed. More so with the Sox, if you look at our recent list of buys and sells.

[Soxlover]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing a month or so ago, but after spending time thinking about it, what's more logical? That the Sox can beat the top teams but struggle against the poor? Or that they're just inconsistent (or consistently infuriating, whatever you prefer), and actually, the first half schedule is was easier than the second half and so we can't take any real data from a run of 12 games. 

Also, while we took 2 out of 3 from Cincy that were (barely) over 500, we then lost to the Jays. Which is right on brand - .500 baseball for the last 2/3 years. I really don't see why we should be expecting too much more the rest of the season. And if that is the case - we should sell everything we can and try and make sure this is the last .500 season for a while.

I’m still leaning full sell.

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, dgalehouse said:

Trading your All Star closer when you are this close in the race is one of the worst suggestions in quite a while. And that is saying a lot. 

2.5 games out from the last wild card spot while playing .500 baseball, really isn't that close. Do you think .500 baseball gets us in? Because I don't see us winning much above .500.

And our all star closer is having the season of his life at 37. There is hay to be made in that sunshine. 

[Hitch]

2 minutes ago, Soxlover said:

I’m still leaning full sell.

Bell is right in that the next few weeks will tell us one way or another. Who knows, maybe we sweep these guys today, sweep the Rockies and take 3 out of 4 from the Rays, setting us up for the crazy schedule after All Star break. 

My guess is not, and we'll be under .500 by the time the deadline comes by.

[dgalehouse]

24 minutes ago, Hitch said:

2.5 games out from the last wild card spot while playing .500 baseball, really isn't that close. Do you think .500 baseball gets us in? Because I don't see us winning much above .500.

And our all star closer is having the season of his life at 37. There is hay to be made in that sunshine. 

Chapman has 350 career saves. 14th most all time. He has had a few great seasons. And at age 37, he is throwing as hard as ever. 

[Hitch]

2 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

Chapman has 350 career saves. 14th most all time. He has had a few great seasons. And at age 37, he is throwing as hard as ever. 

It's so far lining up to be the 2nd best season of his career. And one nobody seen coming off the back of the last 6 seasons. Which just adds to my point.

 

 

[dgalehouse]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

It's so far lining up to be the 2nd best season of his career. And one nobody seen coming off the back of the last 6 seasons. Which just adds to my point.

 

 

He is one of the best closers of his era. And he is some kind of freak who doesn't show his age. I fail to see how any fan can quit on this season now. I just don't understand that. Maybe there is something wrong with me. 

[Hitch]

3 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

He is one of the best closers of his era. And he is some kind of freak who doesn't show his age. I fail to see how any fan can quit on this season now. I just don't understand that. Maybe there is something wrong with me. 

It's not about giving up on it now, but making what is a sensible decision at the deadline if we're still under .500. 

This team might sneak in this year (I don't see it), but next year looks like it could be very exciting with the right additions. Some of those additions will need to come through trades.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

You need to consider buy or sell on a trade-by-trade basis not in the generalities everyone seems to be suggesting.

Start with your GOAL - 1) It's not buy or sell, it's try to win this year while looking to the future OR 2) look to the future and forget about the 2025 season as a goal, let any current success be icing on the cake as we prepare for 2026.

My hope is Breslow chooses the latter.  If he does, he realizes that he can't replace Chapman for 2026 like he can Story, Yoshida, Abreu and a bunch of farm players blocked by the great young team in the majors now.  If that's the case, he extends Bregman and Chapman a year or two.  Then he deals Story while he's hot and gets Yoshida into the DH spot to show he has value and then trades him.  That means more payroll for 2026 or maybe just comparable payroll if he extends Bregman and Chapman.

What does this team need going forward?  Simple.  Pitching.  They need to use their farm system to add quality SPs from teams that are sellers.  Edward Cabrera was suggested and that's a great idea.  Sandy Alcantara was suggested and he's risky but he would up the talent level of the pitching staff significantly even if it takes to 2026 to get him back to his old talent level after his TJ surgery.  

The buyers or sellers paradigm is something the media forces on the public.  Each trade should have a long-term goal that it fulfills.  This team is not experienced enough to make a legitimate run at a Division Title or a lengthy playoff run.  It's a year away if all choices with regard to talent focus on the future not a desperate effort to salvage 2025.  In the long run, 2025 is nothing more than a steppingstone to the sustained success in the future.

[Hugh2]

5 hours ago, harmony said:

Baseball Trade Values assigns Aroldis Chapman a surplus value of $2.2 million:

https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades?q=aroldis&page=1

Is that value too low, too high or about right?

Given what all star level closers have got at the deadline in recent years I’d say that value is low.  Way way way too low

[Bellhorn04]

35 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Given what all star level closers have got at the deadline in recent years I’d say that value is low.  Way way way too low

Yes, I'm not sure BTV is much of a reference point for deadline trades of top relief pitchers.  They are a prized commodity at this time of year.