The Pittsburgh Pirates made a serious move to shore up their bullpen Monday when they agreed to terms on a one-year, $10.5 million contract with seven-time All-Star reliever Aroldis Chapman, a source confirmed to TribLive.
The deal is pending a physical examination.
Chapman, 35, would give the Pirates a left-handed complement and setup reliever for All-Star right-handed bullpen ace David Bednar. He could become a situational relief pitcher for the Pirates after allowing left-handed hitters a career slash line of .140/.262/.186, with only four home runs in 718 plate appearances.
Chapman, who will turn 36 during spring training, has been with five teams over 14 major-league seasons since his rookie year of 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds. He has an overall record of 50-40 with 321 saves, a 2.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 1,148 strikeouts in 6981⁄3 innings.
Chapman most recently pitched for the Kansas City Royals and the World Series champion Texas Rangers last season, recording a 6-5 overall record with six saves, a 3.09 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 581⁄3 innings.
His most recent All-Star season was 2021, when he saved 30 games among 61 appearances for the New York Yankees with a 3.36 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 561⁄3 innings. He has saved 30-plus games in six other seasons, totaling 181 from 2012-16, 32 in 2018 and 37 in 2019.
Chapman’s role as a closer has diminished over the past two seasons with the Yankees, Royals and Rangers when he recorded a total of 21 saves.
Known for a fastball that often touched 100 mph, he recorded the Guiness World Record for the fastest pitch, with a 105.8 mph fastball Sept. 24, 2010, against the San Diego Padres.
