Pirates reach an agreement regarding Aroldis Chapman (from the source)
The Pirates have further strengthened their bullpen, which was arguably the club’s greatest asset heading into the offseason, by signing free-agent relief Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.5 million contract, according to a source who spoke to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Chapman recorded a 4.46 ERA in 43 games against the Yankees in 2022, which was the highest ERA he has recorded in 162 games with the fewest appearances because of his rookie year.
However, he became available for free agency in the offseason after a strong campaign in ’23, during which he posted a 3.09 ERA during the regular season and allowed only two runs in seven postseason innings as the Texas Rangers advanced toward the World Series championship.
Chapman, 35, signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract for the Royals during the previous offseason. Before his first-day move to Texas at the end of June, he had a 2.45 ERA in 31 games via Kansas City.
Although Chapman is probably not a closer at this point in his career, he still possesses a fastball that averages 99.5 mph and ranked in the 100th percentile when speaking of whiff and strikeout rate from the previous season.
Chapman is likely to fill in for Pittsburgh in the late innings, alongside prep relievers Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski, and Ryan Borucki, among other potential candidates, given his statistics.
At this juncture of his career, Chapman’s least impressive quality is his control and authority.
In each of the previous three seasons, he recorded a walk rate greater than 14.5%, and he completed the previous campaign with 36 passes in 58 1/3 innings.
Chapman made this his third attempt to enter free agency. In December 2016, he signed a five-year, $86 million pact with the Yankees.
The following offseason, he signed the same agreement with the Royals. In 2019, he established himself as the Yankees’ most proficient pitcher with a 2.21 ERA and 37 saves within 57 innings.
Since the introduction of velocity tracking to baseball, Chapman, 35, has been the hardest-throwing pitcher.
This year, he pitched crucial innings in the Texas Rangers’ path toward their first series championship.
Earlier this winter, the Pirates, who anticipate being one of the major leagues’ youngest clubs the following season, also acquired experienced lefties Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales.
Before the 2023 season, Chapman signed the one-year, $3.75 million contract to play for the Kansas City Royals. In June, the Royals traded Chapman to the Rangers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans.
Although he never performed admirably enough to secure the closer position, Chapman helped Texas stabilize a shaky bullpen by pitching in nine postseason contests. In that time, he allowed a pair of runs in eight times, striking out six as well as walking five.
As he enters his fifteenth season in the major leagues, Chapman is among the most successful closers in the annals of baseball.
Operating at an average velocity of over 99 mph, his fastball yielded 103 strikeouts over 58Ⅲ innings, while he allowed 36 walks and four hits with a 3.09 ERA.
With 321 games saved, which is tied for 21st all-time, he has the highest career knockout rate of any pitcher with over 500 innings pitched (14.8 per nine innings). Additionally, he has been named to seven All-Star teams.
League sources reported that on Monday, free agent reliever Aroldis Chapman agreed to sign a one-year, $10.5 million contract to join the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Following a disappointing 2022 stint with the New York Yankees, who kept him off their postseason roster, Chapman experienced a resurgence.
Chapman, who entered the 2023 season ranked No. 35 on The Athletic’s list of the top 40 free agents, compiled a 3.09 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
The left-handed pitcher allowed two runs in the eight innings he pitched for the Texas Rangers in the 2023 postseason, during which they won the World Series.
With his transfer to Pittsburgh, Champan has joined his sixth team in the Major League Baseball career.
Before joining the Rangers in 2023, he was a member of the Cincinnati Reds (2010-2015), New York Yankees (2016, 2017-2022), Chicago Cubs (2016), and Kansas City Royals (2023).