Mariners’ perfect trade offer for Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman

The Seattle Mariners couldn’t have come closer to their first World Series than they did a year ago. They went to Toronto for Games 6  and 7 in last year’s American League Championship Series needing one win to earn the pennant. That victory never came and the Mariners were left watching the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays.

The Mariners have a strong team, but one that has not come close to playing to its potential this season. They are in first place in the AL West, but their 39-38 record means that they have been lucky that this is a poor year for the American League.

As the season approaches the halfway point, the Mariners have an excellent chance to win the division because they are deeper and more talented than their competition.

However, there are some areas where they need to get better. The Mariners are in need of a big-time closer, and they need to get in touch with the Boston Red Sox about acquiring flamethrowing reliever Aroldis Chapman. The Red Sox have fallen apart this season and they are probably the most disappointing team in Major League Baseball. They have a lineup that lacks big-time talent and their inability to win their home games is shocking.

The Red Sox are in last place in the AL East with a 30-43 record and there’s little chance that they will escape that position. Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow will soon be in the position where he is likely to be trading his most sought after assets, and Chapman may be the best that he has to offer.

Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto needs to find a way to make a deal for a closer who is clearly among the most dependable in the game.

Chapman still has the firepower at age 38

There is little doubt that Chapman can still bring the heat.

Chapman may be in his 17th year, but there has been no downturn in his performance. He is in his second season with the Red Sox and the team could not ask more from its closer. Chapman was basically perfect in 2025, as he was an All-Star and had 32 saves. Chapman was 5-3 a year ago with a 1.17 earned run average in 61.1 innings. He struck out 85 batters and walked just 15, and it may have been the best season of his career

He has been nearly as good this season even though he has regularly gone weeks between save opportunities. That’s because the Red Sox are rarely ahead by a run or two going into the final inning. Nevertheless, Chapman has a microscopic 0.83 ERA with 14 saves as well as 29 strikeouts in 21.2 innings.

Chapman has made a recent change in his pitching approach during the last few years. When he hears a pitching demand over the PitchCom device, it includes where the pitch should be thrown. So, if Chapman hears “inside fastball,” that’s what he tries to deliver. Prior to the use of the device, he would get the signal for a fastball and just try to throw it over the middle. It’s no wonder he has become a more efficient pitcher in the last two seasons.

Mariners have strong need for a winning closer

The Mariners have a strong need for a closer. At this point in the year, they have used Andres Munoz in that role. He has 12 saves at this point with 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. While that strikeout to innings pitched ratio is impressive, Munoz has walked 13 batters and has a 5.47 ERA. That’s not going to get the job done for manager Dan Wilson, and neither is his minus-0.6 WAR figure.

His performance is especially troubling because the Mariners may have the best starting pitching in the American League and having a powerful and effective closer like Chapman would clearly help their overall performance.

Chapman has one year remaining on his contract, but he can opt out of the deal if he wants. He is scheduled to earn $13 million next season, and he should be earning at least that much and perhaps more.

The Red Sox are not simply going to give Chapman away. He should be among the most sought after players — no matter the position — as the trade deadline approaches.

The Red Sox may be able to use that to their advantage and ask for an established player, a prospect and a future draft choice in order to move Chapman.

The Red Sox have struggled on offense all season, and they could use a decent bat. Obviously, the Mariners will never trade Cal Raleigh or Julio Rodriguez, but could they move Randy Arozarena, Luke Raley or Cole Young?

Young might be the best fit for the Red Sox — he’s a second baseman with 6 homers and 34 RBI — and they could push to acquire him. If they also get a prospect and a draft pick, that could be enough to complete the deal.

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