The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly signed free agent relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman to a contract.
Fansided’s Robert Murray had the news first Monday evening.
Free-agent reliever Aroldis Chapman in agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 23, 2024
Chapman started his career with a different NL Central team, the Cincinnati Reds, where he pitched from 2010-15. He was named to the NL All-Star team every year from 2012-15 for the Reds, who traded him to the New York Yankees in the winter of 2015.
After a half-season in New York which included a suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence Policy, Chapman was traded back to the NL Central where he joined the Chicago Cubs for the stretch run of what ended up being their World Series-winning season. After the year he signed back with the Yankees where he made two more All-Star appearances before leaving New York in free agency after the 2022 season and signing with the Kansas City Royals, who traded him to the Texas Rangers in a mid-season deal. Chapman won his second career championship with Texas.
Chapman’s 321 career saves are third-best among active closers. Pirates closer David Bednar was an All-Star, as well, in both 2022 and 2023, so it seems as if the Pirates are attempting to load up their bullpen, which may not be the worst idea in the NL Central, a division with no clear favorite heading into the season.
