On the heels of a disappointing series loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday evening, the Red Sox made a move to shore up their bullpen for at least another season.
As first reported by BBWAA reporter Francys Romero and confirmed by the Herald, the Red Sox and veteran closer Aroldis Chapman are in agreement on a contract extension for the ’26 season, with an option for ’27 as well.
Chapman, in his 16th big-league season, is having a career year in Boston. At 37 years old, he owns a personal-best 1.04 ERA over 57 appearances – his previous career mark was a 1.51 ERA with the ’12 Reds – including 34 games finished and 26 saves. He ranks in the 90th MLB percentile or better in most pitching metrics, and is in the 100th MLB percentile in expected ERA (xERA), expected batting average (xBA), and strikeout percentage (K%). In July, he earned eighth All-Star selection, his first since ’21.
The Red Sox signed the 37-year-old hurler to a one-year, $10.75 million contract last winter. Between his 2010 debut and the end of last season, ‘the Cuban Missile’ pitched to a 2.63 ERA over 796 regular-season appearances with the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, and Pirates. He was named the AL Reliever of the Year in ’19 and won World Series rings with the ’16 Cubs and ’23 Rangers.
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Chapman will make $13.3 million in ’26, and ’27 is an inning-based vesting option.
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