Red Sox Hint at Final Call on Aroldis Chapman Amid Resurgent Season

With a shot at one final significant payday looming this offseason, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman may not need to look far for a new contract.

Red Sox executive Craig Breslow told MassLive this week that the team is open to extending Chapman, who signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract last December. Chapman, who turned 37 in February, has put together one of his finest seasons for the AL Wild Card-leading Red Sox; he’s on track to finish with career-bests in ERA (1.04) and walks per nine innings (2.4).

Chapman has 26 saves, putting him in line for his ninth 30-save season. Although he likely won’t top his career-best 38 saves, he has an outside chance to record at least 35 for the first time since 2019.

Breslow said that “conversations are always evolving,” but he’s received positive feedback from Chapman on the Red Sox organization and Boston itself.

“It will take two sides, but this guy is having a historic season for a reliever,” Breslow commented.

“Certainly there’s reason to be skeptical as players reach their late 30s,” Breslow continued, “but if you had to bet on somebody, the way he keeps himself in shape and how physically strong he is, that’s the type of guy you’d want to bet on.”

Should the Red Sox Re-Sign Aroldis Chapman?

Breslow hit the nail on the head when he acknowledged the possibility of an older player regressing, and he deserves credit for being direct. Chapman has already posted 3.2 bWAR after totaling 3.5 bWAR and a 3.57 ERA from 2020-24.