AROLDIS CHAPMAN NEWS

Jason Mackey: What could addition of high-powered reliever Aroldis Chapman mean for Pirates' bullpen? PITTSBURGH - Feel free to debate whether this qualifies as a “big move” in a figurative sense. But in a literal one? Yeah, hard-throwing Aro...

JANUARY 23 • SUNHERALD.COM

Reports: Pirates sign LHP Aroldis Chapman for 1 year, $10.5M Free-agent relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, several outlets reported...

JANUARY 23 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Pirates Sign Veteran Reliever Aroldis Chapman to One-Year Deal Chapman is set for a third stint in the NL Central.

JANUARY 23 • KANSASCITY.COM

Pirates bolster bullpen, reach $10.5 million, 1 -year deal with Aroldis Chapman, AP source says

The Pittsburgh Pirates have bolstered the back end of their bullpen, agreeing to terms with seven-time All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman on a one-year deal worth $10.5 million

JANUARY 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates, Aroldis Chapman agree to 1-year deal The lefty gave up two runs in eight innings pitched during the 2023 postseason, in which he won the World Series with the Texas Rangers.

JANUARY 23 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Pirates agree to deal with Aroldis Chapman (source) The Pirates have reached an agreement on a one-year, $10.5 million contract with free-agent reliever Aroldis Chapman, a source told MLB.com'...

JANUARY 23 • MLB.COM

Sources: Pirates agree to one year, $10.5 million contract with reliever Aroldis Chapman Per sources, the Pirates have agreed to a one year, $10.5 million contract with left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman.

JANUARY 23 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Latches on with Pirates Chapman signed a contract with Pittsburgh on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact Chapman is headed to his fourth team in the last three seasons, as he made 43 appearances for the Yankees in 2022 and then began the 2023 campaign in Kansas City before finishing out the year in Texas. Following a 30-save season in 2021 with the Yankees, the fireballer has struggled to hold down a closer's role, securing 15 total saves over the last two years. David Bednar will undoubtedly remain the closer in Pittsburgh after putting together the best season of his young career in 2023, but Chapman will likely be in line for high-leverage opportunities and the potential save chance in 2024.

JANUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Is Aroldis Chapman Better Than You Think? Flame-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman, who joined the Texas Rangers during last season, could be an offseason steal in free agency.

JANUARY 8 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

World Series Game 3 highlights: Rangers beat D-backs 3-1 but lose stars to injuries

The Rangers and Diamondbacks are tied at one game apiece in the 2023 World Series as it shifts to Chase Field in Phoenix. Follow along for t...

OCTOBER 31, 2023

Rangers-Diamondbacks: Ben Verlander's World Series preview, prediction

Who is going to win the 2023 Fall Classic? Ben Verlander breaks down the Rangers and Diamondbacks and makes a bold prediction.

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Blows save, takes loss Chapman (6-5) blew a save and was tagged with Thursday's loss to Seattle. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk without retiring a batter.

Impact Chapman, who worked the eighth inning of a close game Wednesday, was given the closing role Thursday but failed to secure the win that would have clinched Texas' first postseason berth since 2016. He was removed after back-to-back singles and a walk (eight pitches, three strikes). Jonathan Hernandez inherited Chapman's runners and nearly got out of it, but he allowed a two-run, walk-off double to J.P. Crawford. Neither single off Chapman was hard hit, but the performance adds to a stretch of shaky relief from the closer. Over the last 14 outings, Chapman is 1-3 with two blown saves, a 6.23 ERA and 12 walks allowed over 13 innings.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Works eighth inning Chapman struck one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Angels.

Impact It was a 2-0 game in the eighth inning when manager Bruce Bochy had Chapman enter the game. Bochy had Jose Leclerc in mind for the save, which never materialized after the Rangers scored three times in the top of the ninth. Chapman is having a shaky September and appears to be sharing the closer duty with Leclerc.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save Saturday Chapman picked up a save against the Mariners on Saturday, walking one batter and allowing no runs over two-thirds of an inning.

Impact Chapman threw just five of his 10 pitches for strikes and walked the first batter he faced to put the tying run on base after entering with one out and one on in the ninth. However, the fireballer was able to retire Seattle's final two batters to close out the contest and record his sixth save. Chapman has been shaky in September with a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB over seven innings, but he's converted both of his save chances while emerging as Texas' primary ninth-option ahead of Will Smith.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Works multiple innings Chapman (6-4) struck out three over 1.2 innings to earn Tuesday's win over the Red Sox.

Impact Texas manager Bruce Bochy, who told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday afternoon that he's trying to avoid using Chapman for more than one inning, did just that. Chapman entered the seventh inning with Boston rallying and shut the door. The reliever managed a perfect eighth before Jose Leclerc picked up the save. The bullpen has blown leads late in two recent games, as Bochy avoided bringing Chapman in before the ninth inning. However, the manager altered course Tuesday, saying "we've got find a way to win ballgames." Bochy took that tack because the Rangers' bullpen has an AL-worst 6.38 ERA since Aug. 16.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unused in close game Chapman was not used in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Guardians.

Impact Texas held a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth inning, and manager Bruce Bochy had setup reliever Will Smith start the frame. That was a normal tactic, but Smith was pulled with one out after giving up a double and a walk. At that point, instead of bringing in Chapman in a high-leverage spot, Bochy went with Jose Leclerc who gave up two hits that allowed the inherited runners to score. Chapman was well rested, last having pitched Tuesday, and could have been used for a five-out save. However, he's been erratic of late, allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits (two home runs) and seven walks over the last 5.2 innings.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches fifth save Chapman earned a save against the Athletics on Saturday, walking two batters and striking out one in a scoreless inning.

Impact With the Rangers having lost seven of eight games and needing a win as they battle for a playoff spot, manager Bruce Bochy deployed both of his co-closers late in a close contest. Will Smith got the final out of the seventh and followed with a scoreless eighth, while Chapman was called upon to close things out in the ninth. The latter made things stressful for Texas fans with a pair of walks but was able to navigate past those to pick up the save. Though they've come 10 days apart, Chapman has picked up the past two saves for the Rangers. However, he hasn't exactly been sharp of late, giving up seven runs (five earned) and posting an 11:9 K:BB over his past 7.2 frames.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss Saturday Chapman (5-4) was tagged with Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Twins. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an in...

Impact Chapman got the final two outs in the top of the ninth inning but surrendered three runs without retiring a batter in the extra frame. It was the second straight outing that resulted in a loss for Chapman, who also has two blown saves over the last six appearances. He had walked just four batters over his first 16 innings after being acquired by the Rangers, but an emergence of control issues are haunting Chapman. He's walked seven, hit a batter and thrown two wild pitches during the recent six-outing stretch.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches fourth save Chapman gave up a solo home run and struck out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

Impact Will Smith's recent struggles -- he's blown his last two save chances and hasn't successfully converted one since Aug. 11 -- have forced manager Bruce Bochy to look elsewhere at the end of games, with Jose Leclerc getting the save Monday before Chapman got his turn Tuesday. The veteran lefty watched rookie Mark Vientos get just enough of a 100.8 mph fastball to send it out to the opposite field, but otherwise Chapman got the job done on an efficient nine pitches (eight strikes). Smith tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up a hold and hasn't been removed completely from the high-leverage mix, but the Rangers could be headed toward a closing committee unless someone seizes the job.

AUGUST 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Aroldis Chapman Closing for Texas Rangers, But For How Long? Aroldis Chapman has moved into the closer role, but are the Texas Rangers set at the end of games?

AUGUST 28, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

One Game, Two Blown Saves by Rangers Closers Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith both failed to close out a win Monday night at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Blows save Monday Chapman blew a save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over two innings.

Impact With Texas ahead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, it was Chapman who got the call from the bullpen to close things out. He couldn't do so, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Ketel Marte with one out. Chapman did settle down from there to finish that frame and the 10th without allowing any more runs, and he looked to be in line for the win when Texas scored twice in the top of the 11th. However, Will Smith -- who has been working as the Rangers' primary closer of late -- coughed up three two-out runs to blow a save opportunity of his own. Smith has blown two of five save chances over his past seven outings while posting a 15.19 ERA and 2.25 WHIP, so Chapman could be in line for more ninth-inning opportunities, though there hasn't yet been any word of a changing of the guard between the duo.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Settles into setup role Chapman walked one and struck out three over a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold in Monday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.

Impact Chapman recorded a fourth straight hold, all with him pitching the eighth inning. Texas manager Bruce Bochy has settled on a late-game pattern, where Josh Sborz works the seventh, Chapman the eighth, and Will Smith closes the ninth. That's been the formula for four wins during the Rangers' seven-game winning streak. Chapman's been brilliant since being acquired from Kansas City in late June, striking out 23 with three walks over 12 innings. The lone blemish was a blown save July 24 against division rival Houston.

AUGUST 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Grading 5 of the most active teams at the 2023 MLB trade deadline

As the dust settles around the 2023 MLB trade deadline, Ben Verlander grades five of the most active buyers — including the one that traded...

AUGUST 3, 2023

Holds lead Chapman allowed one hit and struck out three over one inning in to earn a hold in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the White Sox.

Impact Chapman made his first appearance in eight days, showing no rust in a 15-pitch (11 strikes) outing. The left-hander blew up in his previous appearance, giving up three runs and walking two in a loss to the Astros, but that's been the lone blemish since joining the Rangers in late June. Chapman has allowed five hits and two walks while striking out 17 over nine innings in a Texas uniform.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE