In what's otherwise been a lost season for the Boston Red Sox, closer Aroldis Chapman has had a career renaissance. Thanks to increased usage of his changeup and slider, Chapman has reinvented himself from a fireballer to a complete closer whose fastball still tops out in the upper-90's.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow — while loathed by much of the Boston fanbase — has already started to consider his next steps with the trade deadline just under two months away. That could reportedly start with Chapman, who is on the block once again, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
With that in mind, which contending teams make the most sense for Chapman, who has a near-flawless 0.76 ERA and a mutual option for the 2027 season? Let's dive in.
Aroldis Chapman trade destinations Red Sox must consider
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have become one of baseball's best storylines early this season. Even with an injury to Munetaka Murakami, Chicago hasn't missed a beat, calling up top prospect Braden Montgomery who started his MLB career in style. The bullpen, though, remains a prevailing issue should the south siders make a run in the American League Central. Chapman is familiar with Chicago, as he pitched for the Cubs during their World Series run in 2016. If the White Sox are going to take that sort of sizable steps either this season or next, they will need a stable back end of the bullpen. Seranthony Dominguez isn't quite cutting it.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Much like the White Sox, the Pittsburgh Pirates are hopeful to make their first playoff run in years. The back end of the Pirates bullpen has been disastrous, as Pittsburgh's blown double-digit leads this season. Don Kelly has tried to rearrange the bullpen by moving Carmen Mlodzinski out of the starting rotation. It hasn't worked as planned. Chapman would instantly transform this bullpen from one of the league's worst to, at the very least, workable. Boston's familiarity with former Red Sox executive Ben Cherington makes this destination a match.
Arizona Diamondbacks
While the Diamondbacks have come back down to earth recently after testing the Los Angeles Dodgers in early June, they remain in the hunt for an National League Wild Card spot. Their primary weakness is the bullpen, which ranks 16th in MLB in ERA. It doesn't help that all three of Justin Martinez, AJ Puk and Andre Saalfrank are on the 60-day injured list. Chapman alone probably doesn't solve their problems, but he provides Arizona with a back-end ace they simply don't have right now. Mike Hazen's connections to Boston could help get these deal done at the deadline.
St. Louis Cardinals
You'll notice a theme with some of the teams on this list, and it really isn't all that complicated to follow. If the executives in charge have some sort of tie back to Breslow, they could be in the running. Say what you will of Chaim Bloom, he has helped turn the St. Louis Cardinals into a winner far sooner than expected. While the Cards could buy and sell at this season's trade deadline, adding a player like Chapman would go a long way in fixing the back end of a 'pen that relies a little too much on closer Riley O'Brien.
San Diego Padres
Do the San Diego Padres need a closer? Not so much, as Mason Miller has that role filled under further notice. Yet, if we know one thing about AJ Preller, it's that he's willing to think outside the box. Recent rumblings out of San Diego suggest the Padres could build a super-bullpen of sorts to make up for their lack of rotation depth. A back end featuring both Chapman and Miller would be deadly come October if the Padres are lucky enough to make it there. Offense will be the Padres' top priority come August, but don't be surprised if they're in the mix for Chapman as well.
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