Red Sox Have MLB's Most Coveted Trade Target at One Position
The Boston Red Sox have the proverbial 99 problems. Finding a team willing to acquire closer Aroldis Chapman, should they choose to trade him before the Aug. 3 deadline, is not one.
Boston‘s stunning four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees to close the week narrowed their deficit in the American League East. At 36-46 through June 28, the Red Sox are nominally alive in the AL Wild Card race, 4.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final postseason berth.
Will having Chapman, an eight-time All-Star whose 16 saves rank third in the AL, make a difference in their chances of reaching the postseason? That question is one of many still to be resolved this season in Boston.
One thing is for certain: the 38-year-old left-hander will be in high demand this summer.
“It's fair to assume the Red Sox will be keeping a close eye on Chapman's performance (and health) between now and the deadline because of what's at stake,” Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com wrote. “The Cuba native is believed to be the best reliever available and one veteran scout said this week that he expects the Red Sox to be able to get ‘two prospects, including a top-100 type and another piece’ in a deal for him.”
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As Mike Petriello of MLB.com noted, “somewhere between two and three dozen relievers get moved in the final five days of the trading period” every season this decade.
The reason is simple: virtually every contending team can find a position of weakness in their bullpen that can be improved via trade. And because the cost to acquire relievers is less than any other position, a contending team with even a relatively weak farm system can find some minor league players that justify trading a reliever.
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Chapman is owed $12 million this season, and at least $13 million next season. He’s thrown 24.2 innings through June 28. If he pitches at least 40 innings in 2026 - easily attained if he stays healthy - Chapman’s contract for next year becomes guaranteed (as long as he passes a physical after the season).
Chapman can also increase the value of his deal by up to $1 million by collecting BBWAA Reliever of the Year Award votes, or MLB Reliever of the Year votes. With a 2.19 ERA and 16 saves through June 28, those incentives are within reach.
That might scare off some buyers, but it’s not enough to make his contract unaffordable.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow might be tempted enough by a compelling offer to trade Chapman regardless of his team’s record. In any event, the offers will be there. The only question is whether the Red Sox will win enough for Breslow to turn them down.
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This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 7:27 PM.