The Boston Red Sox are one of baseball’s hottest teams currently, as the trade deadline is nearing.
While they sit in third place in the American League East entering Sunday, they are settled into the second wild card spot in the A.L. Despite this, FanSided’s Zach Pressnell believes the team should trade closer Aroldis Chapman.
“The top priority for the Red Sox should be trading closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman is on an expiring contract,” wrote Pressnell. “At this point in his career, it seems like he’s going to sign a one-year deal with the highest bidder in free agency each offseason. With that in mind, the Red Sox need to mortgage his value at the trade deadline while they have the chance to.”
Chapman has been one of baseball’s best relievers this season, posting a 1.22 ERA. He earned himself an eighth trip to the mid-summer classic coming up on Tuesday, and given his success, he’s likely to appear at some point in the game.
If the Red Sox trade him, it would be because they believe the return could help bolster their odds of locking down a playoff spot.
“Trading him to a team like the Dodgers in an attempt to bring in Justin Wrobleski or Bobby Miller, alongside other prospects, would be the best case for Boston,” wrote Pressnell.
Boston would likely look for players who are either blocked in Triple-A right now or those who have just started to get their feet wet in the big leagues. If trading Chapman is the direction the Red Sox go, it would show a commitment beyond the remainder of this season.
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