The Boston Red Sox aren’t worried about welcoming newly signed relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman to the team’s clubhouse this upcoming season.
Boston landed Chapman on a one-year, $10.75 million deal making the left-hander the second free agent signee added by the Red Sox this offseason — joining Justin Wilson. Chapman, now 36 years old and 15 years into his big league career, will soon take the mound at Fenway Park and is awaited by a presumably warm reception from his new Boston teammates.
“What I’ve heard of Chapman is he’s fantastic in how he deals with the younger guys, especially the younger Latino guys,” bullpen mate Liam Hendriks said, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “And so with the young Latino guys we have on this club, it’s going to be huge. Whether it be Ceddanne Rafaela, Brayan Bello, or Luis Guerrero. … It’s going to be fantastic said. I’ve had brief conversations with him in the past, and it’s always been a positive, positive thing.”
Hendriks missed the entirety of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery recovery, but still stuck around, whether through minor league rehab assignments or live batting practice sessions with the big league club. He watched the bullpen, hampered by injuries, struggle throughout the season and end the team’s 81-81 run with the second-most blown saves (31) in MLB, en route to missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
Champman, a two-time World Series champion and seven-time All-Star, provides the Red Sox with a longtime veteran arm to rely on in late-game situations. He’s widely regarded as one of the most feared closers during his heyday, and while no longer clocking in 105-plus miles-per-hour fastballs — as consistently — in the zone, Chapman is still capable of contributing in Boston.
He tossed 61 2/3 innings of relief for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, posting a 3.79 ERA with 98 strikeouts. Chapman, moments after the news broke of his new deal with Boston, took to social media, sending a ‘Let’s Go,’ message to fans while sporting a Red Sox hat.
