This left-hander may be Boston's best trade chip.
The Boston Red Sox are going to be an interesting team as the trade deadline approaches. The official deadline is 6 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, and despite the Rafael Devers trade, they are still in the mix.
Boston is just 6 1/2 back in the American League East and 2 1/2 back in the Wild Card race. But what they'll do in the coming weeks in unknown.
If they decide to sell, they have a few pieces on expiring contracts that contenders may show interest in. That could help them strengthen their farm system for the future.
Their most logical trade chip is left-hander Aroldis Chapman, and Jayson Stark of The Athletic thinks he might be on the move.
"They’ve already unloaded Devers, but they’re one more team still in a race that’s seemingly impossible to fall out of," Stark wrote. "Who couldthey sell? Aroldis Chapman is the most logical name."
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In 39 appearances, Chapman has racked up 15 saves and gone 3-2 with a 1.25 ERA. The Kansas City Royals capitalized on his value in 2023 when they traded him to the Texas Rangers for Cole Ragans.
Boston could do the same this year at the deadline. The seven-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion could bring back a similar haul this year.
Chapman has an impressive resume preceding him. He is also a former AL Reliever of the Year. The 37-year-old still brings elite velocity to the table, so even if the Red Sox stay in the race, teams will show interest in Chapman.
It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox operate at the deadline. They are a team that could potentially go in either direction.
They aren't out of the race, but aren't exactly one of the top teams in the Junior Circuit.
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Category: Baseball
