The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees share one of the most intense rivalries in baseball history. While the San Diego Padres’ rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers has grown in recent years, it still doesn’t compare to the animosity between the Red Sox and Yankees.
This winter, their rivalry extends into free agency, with both teams eyeing similar players, including Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto. Before these stars commit, Boston has already made a move by signing a former Yankee, though one with some controversy, to a one-year deal.
On Tuesday morning, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Red Sox had reached an agreement with veteran pitcher Aroldis Chapman for a one-year contract worth over $10 million for the 2025 season.
Chapman spent 2024 in a setup role for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He began his career with the Cincinnati Reds, then moved to the Yankees, where he pitched nearly 300 innings across seven seasons.
Over his 15-year career, he has also played for the Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs. Although he’s not the dominant force he was in 2015, Chapman posted a solid 3.79 ERA in 2024 while still regularly reaching triple digits with his fastball.
A key takeaway from this deal is that if Chapman earns over $10 million per year, other one-year free agents like Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen could also secure lucrative contracts this winter.
