Pittsburgh Pirates Reportedly Sign All-Star Closer Aroldis Chapman to 1-Year Deal
The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly signed closer Aroldis Chapman to a one-year deal, according to FanSided's Robert Murray.
Chapman's contract will be worth $10.5 million, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The deal is still pending a physical.
The 35-year-old Cuban flamethrower is headed into his 15th MLB season. Chapman finished up 2023 with the Texas Rangers after starting the year with the Kansas City Royals.
Chapman made $3.75 million last season, but he was able to bump up his payday thanks to his improved efficiency with the Royals and his success in the postseason with the Rangers. He wound up winning his second World Series ring in October.
Chapman debuted with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2010. He made his first of four consecutive All-Star Games in 2012, also finishing eighth in NL Cy Young voting and 12th in NL MVP voting that year.
The New York Yankees dealt for Chapman ahead of the 2016 season, only to trade him to the Chicago Cubs at the deadline that summer. Chapman helped Chicago clinch its first championship in 108 years before jumping ship and re-signing with the Yankees in free agency.
Chapman remained in the Bronx through 2022, making three more All-Star appearances along the way.
The Yankees let Chapman walk last winter following his career-high 4.46 ERA and 1.431 WHIP. He recovered in 2023, however, putting up a 3.09 ERA and 1.251 WHIP with the Royals and Rangers.
For his career, Chapman is 50-40 with 321 saves, a 2.53 ERA, 1.084 WHIP, 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings and a 20.4 WAR. He is 3-4 with 10 saves, a 2.37 ERA, 1.135 WHIP, 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 44 career postseason appearances.
The Pirates now have a veteran reliever they can turn to in the late innings besides David Bednar, who posted a 2.00 ERA and led the NL with 39 saves in 2023. Between the right-handed Bednar and left-handed Chapman, Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton now has one of the most reliable one-two bullpen punches in baseball entering 2024.
Bednar is 29 years old with three years left of team control, while Chapman appears to be a short-term addition.
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