The Boston Red Sox are making sure one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant closers remains in their bullpen for the foreseeable future. On Sunday, the club announced that veteran left-hander Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a $13.3 million contract for the 2026 season, a deal that also carries a vesting option for 2027.
For Chapman, now 37, the agreement represents both stability and reward for a remarkable first campaign in Boston. The structure of the deal ensures he’ll be guaranteed $26 million over two years if he reaches at least 40 innings pitched next summer. Should he fall short of that mark, Chapman would instead collect a $300,000 buyout unless both sides agree to exercise a mutual option.
The Red Sox have been rewarded handsomely since bringing Chapman aboard. Few expected the Cuban fireballer, who has logged more than a decade in the majors with multiple clubs, to post the kind of numbers he has in 2025. Yet Chapman has turned back the clock and produced one of the finest seasons of his career.
In 57 appearances spanning 52 innings, Chapman has authored a career-best 1.04 ERA while converting 27 saves, including one on Sunday that sealed Boston’s 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beyond the raw numbers, Chapman has put together one of the most extraordinary stretches in recent memory—15 consecutive games without surrendering a hit. That mark stands as the longest such streak in Red Sox history and the longest by any pitcher in Major League Baseball since Toronto Blue Jays reliever Sergio Santos accomplished it in 2013.
A Career Defined by Power and Longevity
Chapman’s 2025 resurgence is only the latest chapter in a career defined by both his raw power on the mound and his longevity in one of baseball’s most grueling roles. Known for routinely hitting triple digits on the radar gun, Chapman has long been considered one of the game’s most intimidating closers.
He entered the majors in 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds, where he quickly established himself as one of the sport’s premier bullpen arms. In six seasons with Cincinnati, Chapman racked up saves and strikeouts at a record pace, cementing his reputation before moving on to the New York Yankees.
Chapman’s seven-year tenure in New York featured both brilliance and scrutiny. He helped the Yankees anchor the back end of their bullpen and appeared in several postseason runs, though he also shouldered his share of high-pressure moments that didn’t always go in the team’s favor. Still, his overall dominance was undeniable.
Along the way, Chapman also made stops with the Chicago Cubs—winning a World Series in 2016—before pitching for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Now in Boston, he seems to have rediscovered his very best form, reminding the baseball world why he has collected 362 career saves and counting.
A Boost for Boston’s Playoff Push
For the Red Sox, Chapman’s dominance comes at a crucial time. Sunday’s win pushed Boston to a 76-62 record, good enough for third place in the competitive American League East. They currently sit 3.5 games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays but remain firmly in the thick of the wild-card race.
A return to October baseball would mark the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2021, when they reached the American League Championship Series. Securing Chapman’s services through at least 2026 ensures that the team will enter those high-stakes situations with one of the most experienced and effective closers in the game.
Chapman’s ability to dominate late innings not only stabilizes Boston’s bullpen but also relieves pressure on the starting rotation and setup relievers. In a season where every game has playoff implications, his consistency has been invaluable.
Betting on Experience
The Red Sox front office has made it clear that they see Chapman not just as a short-term contributor but as a key piece of their long-term pitching puzzle. At 37, Chapman has shown few signs of slowing down. His recent run of hitless outings and microscopic ERA suggest he’s adapted well to the evolving demands of the modern game, mixing his trademark velocity with refined command.
While Boston’s offense and starting rotation have faced ups and downs, Chapman’s reliability has been one of the defining strengths of their season. The new contract reflects the organization’s confidence that he will continue to perform at an elite level, even as he advances into the later stages of his career.
For Chapman, the deal offers an opportunity to extend his legacy while chasing another World Series ring. Having already proven himself across multiple organizations and postseason runs, he now has the chance to etch his name deeper into Boston’s history books.
Looking Ahead
With September baseball underway, the Red Sox know the margin for error is thin. They’ll need every save, every strikeout, and every ounce of dominance Chapman can deliver as they attempt to track down the Blue Jays and secure a postseason berth.
If Boston does reach the playoffs, they’ll do so with one of the hottest closers in baseball anchoring the ninth inning. The combination of experience, power, and current form makes Chapman not just a weapon but a potential difference-maker in tight postseason games.
In many ways, Sunday’s announcement was about more than dollars and years. It was about trust. The Red Sox are betting that Aroldis Chapman, still blazing fastballs past hitters well into his late thirties, is the man who can help carry them back to October glory. And judging by his performance so far in Boston, it’s a bet worth making.
