Aroldis Chapman is doing exactly what the Boston Red Sox had hoped for—and then some more. The $10.75 million bullpen gamble is paying off big time. His ERA of 1.65 is eye-watering, and he has fanned 37 hitters in just 27 innings. And he looks like the flamethrower from his prime—circa 2016! For a team that’s been shaky at best, Chapman has been lights out.
But here is the thing: Boston still is under .500. At 32-36, with the trade deadline creeping closer, everyone is asking the same thing: do they sell? And if they do, is Chapman the one on the chopping block, since he is red-hot now?
Well, MLB.com, Theo DeRosa thinks so. He threw Chapman’s name in the list of players whom he thinks will likely be moved. He for sure called this Chapman’s best season since his Cubs run in 2016, and for him, the dominance and short-term contract are ideal trade bait. But not everyone thinks so—at least not Ken Rosenthal.
Oct 3, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning during game one of the Wildcard series for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Ken Rosenthal was at the Nothing Personal Show, where, when asked by David Samson if he thinks Chapman is on the move, he quickly shut it down. Rosenthal said, “No… I expect the Red Sox to get back in this thing. I know they haven’t played well—another tough loss last night—but they’ve invested a lot in this season. This was supposed to be the year they turned things around.” And he is not wrong.
Boston brought in Alex Bregman, and they traded for Garrett Crochet. They even tried getting Juan Soto, even though that didn’t bear fruit. This was not just a rebuilt Boston; they went in expecting to compete. So selling off one of their best weapons midseason—that seems a tough sell. Also, the pressure is on because Boston fans and crowds are not like any other, and media scrutiny is lethal, too.
Now, truly, Aroldis Chapman is the guy that front offices flip – a veteran with a one-year deal, but Rosenthal said, “They’re not going to give up on this season easily.” Well, how it plays out—that will unravel in the next few weeks. If Boston can suddenly rev itself up, maybe he will stay. If the slide continues, don’t be shocked, for the front office takes a much-needed decision.
While the Boston Red Sox search for stability, the Yankees let the bats do the talking
While Boston is trying to find steady water, their archrivals are riding high and making it look easy. The New York Yankees are once again flexing their offensive firepower, and the numbers back it up. According to a breakdown by BrooksGate on X, the Yankees are leading all of baseball with a .809 team OPS. Which basically screams, “We hit a lot.” And the main engine behind this is, of course, Aaron Judge.
Judge is leading the league with a 1.264 OPS—it’s a ridiculous level, great. He tops the AL in runs, standing at 62, batting average of .396, on-base percentage of .493, and slugging percentage of .771. Only Shohei Ohtani has scored more runs this season. That’s how hot Judge has been sol far. However, he is not doing it alone; he has help. Veterans like Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, and Ben Rice are pulling their weight too. Plus, Jazz Chisholm Jr., who just made his return from the IL, has been on fire, launching bombs. Plus, even Giancarlo Stanton is on the verge of a return to his DH duties. So this is not just a hot streak; it is a statement.
The Bronx Bombers for sure have their eyes on the prize now—they might not let go of the rings this time. What do you think?
The post $10.75M Red Sox Veteran’s Fate Receives Bold Verdict Amid Intensifying Buzz Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on EssentiallySports.
