The veteran closer coming off a one year contract with Pittsburgh just signed a one year 10.75 million dollar contract to the Boston Red Sox. The physical to confirm the trade is currently pending and it is critical because Chapman’s arm has had a lot of wear and tear over his 15 year career. However, This past season he has been showing flashes of his former prowess, even throwing a 105.1 mile per hour fastball.

The red sox need a veteran presence like Chapman if they want to break their playoff drought. Over his career Chapman has been an above average pitcher. Recently, he fell from being the dominant closer that he used to be from 2010 to 2021, in part due to the huge amount of injuries he has sustained over his career.

For instance, during the early 2010s he got hit in the head by a line drive going over one hundred miles per hour. This fractured his skull and had to have a metal plate inserted into his head. He also has achilles tendonitis and knee soreness, something that comes with his impressive mileage. 

He has also had some rough playoff experiences, most notably in 2019 when Jose Altuve hit a walk-off homerun to win game six. In 2016 he gave up a homerun in game seven of the World Series giving up the lead. These are exceptions, however, to Chapman’s record. On average in the playoffs, he has given up around 3 runs every 9 innings and 10 saves in 24 appearances.

Despite some rough patches in his career, Chapman continues to work hard just like he did as a new player. He arrived in the US in 2009 from Cuba and signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. Soon after, he threw the record for the fastest pitch ever recorded at 105.8 miles per hour. He was one of the best and most valuable relievers for the next five years. 

This is a turning point in his career as he joins a new team. He is a great arm and will be a huge benefit to the Boston Red Sox.