The Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman assured his continuation with the Boston Red Sox by surpassing 40 innings pitched in the 2026 season, which automatically activated his 13 million dollar contract option for 2027, as reported by specialized journalist Francys Romero.
The vesting clause stipulated that the Cuban left-handed pitcher had to reach that threshold of innings during the season for the option to become effective; otherwise, the team would have only paid a buyout of $300,000.
Chapman not only met the minimum requirement but exceeded it by far: in the 2026 season, he has accumulated 41 appearances, 27 saves, an earned run average of 2.04, and 50 strikeouts, figures that establish him as one of the most dominant closers in the league.
The agreement will be formalized once the player passes a physical exam at the end of the regular season. "At the end of the season, Chapman will have a physical exam, and if he remains healthy, the agreement will be finalized," Romero clarified. The contract was negotiated by the agency The Team.
The contractual structure of the Holguin native with Boston has its roots in December 2024, when Chapman signed with the Red Sox for one year and 10.75 million dollars for the 2025 season.
After a successful campaign, on August 31, 2025, he extended his contract with Boston for an additional year and 13.3 million dollars for 2026, with a vesting option for 2027 included in the agreement. The total potential value of the 2026-2027 package amounts to 26 million dollars.
The 2026 season has been historically significant for Chapman beyond the economic aspect. On July 3, the left-hander broke the historic strikeout record for a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball by reaching 1,364, surpassing the mark set by Hoyt Wilhelm, which had stood for decades.
Weeks later, in July, he was recognized as the American League Reliever of the Month, an award that highlights the consistent level he has demonstrated throughout the entire season.
Chapman, who defected from Cuba in 2009 and made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, has also worn the jerseys of the Yankees, Cubs, Royals, and Pirates before arriving in Boston.
With the 2027 option already activated, the Cuban closer is on track to compete for at least one more season in the Major Leagues, where he continues to write chapters in the history books of baseball.
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