Aroldis Chapman Signs Extension with the Red Sox for 2026

August 31, 2025

Over the last two seasons, Red Sox baseball operations chief Craig Breslow has methodically secured much of the team's young core, signing contract extensions with Dominican Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, Garrett Crochet, Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony.

On Saturday night, Breslow was back at it, but this time with someone who can hardly be characterized as a young player in the world of baseball.

In the midst of the best year of his career and in his first season with the Red Sox, Cuban left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman signed a contract extension for 2026 that guarantees him US$13.3 million and also includes a mutual option for 2027, the team announced officially on Sunday.

Chapman will be 38 years old when the new contract takes effect and has shown no signs of slowing down.

"I think the man has been great for us, and not just on the field," said Red Sox manager, Puerto Rican Alex Cora. "What he has done on the field is amazing, but as you see, in the clubhouse, the way he prepares, it has been great."

While it is ideal to build a young core with the talent the Red Sox have, it works better when the group is supported by a group of veterans.

That is what makes the presence of players like Chapman, Alex Bregman and Trevor Story so important.

Bregman and Story have two years left on their deals, but with a detail. Bregman has an opt-out after each of the next two seasons. Story has an opt-out after this season.

However, with the culture the Red Sox are building, both veterans will likely seek to stay.

At 37 years old, Chapman has the best ERA of his career, 1.02, with 76 strikeouts in 53 innings. He has 27 saves in 29 opportunities for the Red Sox. The left-hander has had a season of resurgence after posting a 3.79 ERA in 61.2 innings for the Pirates in 2024.

Chapman arrived at Spring Training with the goal of avoiding the control issues he has had in the past and he has succeeded in a big way. Before Sunday, he had thrown a strike with his first pitch 70.2% of the time, above his previous personal high of 62.5% in 2017.

His overall strike percentage, 69.8%, is also the best of his career.