The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman to a one-year deal. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the contract is worth $10.5 million, pending a physical.
Chapman is a seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star for two teams. He was an All-Star from 2012 to 2015 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. He earned three more selections as a New York Yankees pitcher.
Aroldis Chapman is going to the Pirates pic.twitter.com/c89UDTS8vc
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) January 23, 2024
Chapman’s best season occurred in 2019 when he became an All-MLB Second Team member and the American League Reliever of the Year. He finished that season with 37 saves and three wins in 57 innings. Chapman earned a 2.21 ERA and struck out 85 batters that year.
The veteran pitcher last played for the Texas Rangers and won a World Series championship. He struck out 50 batters and finished with a 3.72 ERA in 29 innings.
Aside from the Reds, the Yankees, and the Rangers, Chapman also played one season for the Chicago Cubs and a portion of the 2023 season with the Kansas City Royals. In June 2023, the Royals traded him to the Rangers for Roni Cabrera and Cole Ragans.
Chapman has a career 2.53 ERA and won 50 games in 698.1 innings. He has struck out 1,148 batters and became the newest member of the 300-save club, achieving the feat in August 2021. The Cuban pitcher will be playing in his 15th MLB season in 2024.
-Lance Fernandez