Report: Aroldis Chapman To Join 8th Different MLB Team
Aroldis Chapman is no stranger to being traded midseason. His move to the Chicago Cubs in 2016 from the NY Yankees led to the first World Series championship on the North Side of Chicago in 108 years. His trade to the Texas Rangers in July of 2023 helped the Rangers to their first-ever World Series win.
Which team will be the next to bring in the flamethrower to help lead them to the ultimate prize?
According to insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, a trade will happen. It's only a matter of time.
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to join his eighth different team, and potentially be in the postseason with his sixth different team. He is the top reliever available on every contender’s target list, converting 28 consecutive saves dating back to last season, one shy of his career record.
Chapman has 380 saves in his 17-year career, and has plied his trade with seven different teams to this point, including the BoSox these past two seasons. He has 45 saves for them in 87 appearances, with a spectacular 1.00 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. This season in Boston, it's been even better, as he's recorded his 13 saves with a ridiculous 0.46 ERA, holding opposing batters to a .134 average and .441 OPS.
In addition to the Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees, Royals and Rangers, Chapman has also pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Several teams that are playoff contenders this season could wind up being that "eighth different team" that Nightengale refered to. The list starts here, with a group of NL teams that are both in contention, and have a good prospect pool to draw from to entice the Red Sox:
- Atlanta Braves
- LA Dodgers
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Arizona Diamondbacks
