There’s no way the Tigers are landing this All-Star pitcher … or is there?
At this point, it’s hard to imagine the Detroit Tigers not acting as buyers before the July 31 trade deadline.
Why wouldn’t a team with an 11-game lead in its division and the best record in baseball look to upgrade? Even top contenders like the Tigers and Dodgers have room to improve, especially in an American League that still features the surging Red Sox and the perennial powerhouse Astros.
Speaking of Boston, the Red Sox are also expected to be active. They’ve gone 11-2 in July and currently hold the final AL Wild Card spot. Despite trading away All-Star Rafael Devers to the Giants in mid-June, they’re only four games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East.
A trade between the Tigers and Red Sox isn’t off the table. But one involving All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman? That feels like a long shot.
Then again, The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen floated the idea Friday, noting Detroit’s need for bullpen help—before questioning whether the Tigers “actually want” Chapman at all.
Could the Tigers trade for Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman?
A trade involving Aroldis Chapman — one of the league’s top closers — might have made sense a month ago. He’s on a one-year, $10.75 million deal, and at the time, the Red Sox looked destined for another losing season.
But now? Boston is firmly in the division race, chasing its first AL East crown since 2018. Chapman has been lights-out, posting a 1.18 ERA with a dominant 58-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 38 innings. The eight-time All-Star has already notched 2.0 bWAR, his best since 2016, and has been a key part of the team’s resurgence.
Sure, the Red Sox might be open to dealing a regular contributor. Masataka Yoshida could be moved given his somewhat limited role, and they might listen on Jarren Duran if a team makes an aggressive offer.
But moving Chapman now just doesn’t add up. Teams in contention — which Boston undeniably is as of July 19 — don’t typically trade away elite relievers, especially ones with Chapman’s playoff pedigree.
There will be plenty of bullpen arms available at the deadline. Washington’s Kyle Finnegan might come at a reasonable price, and Oakland’s Mason Miller could be in play if the A’s stick to their trend of flipping young stars.
If Detroit wants bullpen help, they’ll find it. Just don’t expect that help to come in the form of Aroldis Chapman — not until the offseason, anyway.
