Red Sox reach extension with veteran closer Aroldis Chapman amid career campaign

The Boston Red Sox are keeping Aroldis Chapman around.

Chapman and the Red Sox reached a $13.3 million deal Sunday for the 2026 campaign that includes a vesting option for 2027, the team announced.

He’ll now be guaranteed $26 million over two years if he pitches at least 40 innings next summer. If he doesn’t, he would receive a $300,000 buyout unless both sides accept a mutual option otherwise.

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The 37-year-old closer is in the midst of one of his best seasons to date in his first campaign in Boston. He holds a career-best 1.04 ERA in 57 games and 52 innings pitched, and he converted his 27th save of the season Sunday while helping the Red Sox grab a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Chapman has gone 15 games without allowing a hit, the longest in Red Sox history. That’s the longest streak in Major League Baseball since Toronto Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos did so in 2013.

Chapman has 362 saves in his career. The Cuban native got his start in the league in 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds, where he spent six seasons before a seven-year run with the New York Yankees. He’s also spent time with the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

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With their win Sunday, the Red Sox are 76-62 record. That has them third in the AL East, 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the division race. Boston is currently on pace to secure a wild-card spot. That would send the franchise back to the postseason for the first time since 2021.