The newly promoted Yankees signed with the division rival

The newly promoted Yankees signed with the division rival

The Yankees will see a lot of Aroldis Chapman next season.

The left-handed reliever has agreed to a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, pending a physical, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday.

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It’s been two years since Chapman left the Yankees after being left off the postseason roster. At the time, Yankees manager Aaron Boone called Chapman’s actions “disappointing,” while general manager Brian Cashman claimed he wasn’t surprised given his history.

“There have been some questions about whether or not he has been all-in for some time,” Cashman said at the time. “He has verbally reinforced that he is there, but sometimes his actions don’t match those words.”

In parts of seven seasons with the Yankees, Chapman appeared in 315 games and posted a 2.94 ERA with 453 strikeouts in 294 1/3 innings. He recorded 153 of 171 save opportunities during that period.

Chapman has played on three teams since 2023, the Kansas City Royals, the Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 129 appearances since then, he has a 3.45 ERA while maintaining a high strikeout rate – he has 201 strikeouts over 120 innings.

Chapman will be 37 at the start of next season and will provide the Red Sox with a much-needed left-handed backup arm.

The move can be interpreted in several ways: It may signal that the Red Sox are interested in signing big-money free agents, potentially enticing free agent Juan Soto to sign with Boston. Or it may be a signal that the Red Sox are stocking up on left-handed hitters in the event Soto signs with the division rival Yankees or Blue Jays.

Either way, the Red Sox just got a little better with this move.

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