New York (AFP) – Cuban-born relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman, a two-time World Series champion, has agreed to terms with Boston on a $13.3 million deal for the 2026 Major League Baseball season, the Red Sox announced on Sunday. The news came 15 years to the day after the 37-year-old left-hander made his MLB debut for Cincinnati after having defected from the Communist island nation in 2009 while at a tournament in the Netherlands.
Chapman, who became an American citizen in 2016, has a career record of 59-47 with 1,322 strikeouts and a 2.52 earned-run average with 362 saves over 16 MLB campaigns. He captured World Series crowns with the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and Texas Rangers in 2023.
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“The guy has been great for us and not only on the field,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “What he has done on the field is amazing, but in the clubhouse, the way he prepares, he has been great.”
This season, Chapman has a career-low 1.02 earned-run average with 76 strikeouts over 53 innings, making 27 saves in 29 opportunities for Boston. His first-pitch strike percentage of 70.2% and overall strike percentage of 69.8% this season are both career highs.
The Red Sox are 76-62 this season, 3.5 games behind American League East division leader Toronto and in the second of three AL playoff wildcard spots, 2.5 games ahead of Seattle. Last year, Chapman had a 3.79 ERA in 61 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh on a one-year contract, then signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox last December for $10.75 million.
Chapman, an eight-time MLB All-Star, has also played for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. He holds MLB records for the fastest pitch in history at 105.8 mph (170.3 km/hr) and the most consecutive relief appearances with a strikeout at 49 from August 2013 to August 2014 while with Cincinnati.
© 2024 AFP
