Red Sox Closer Aroldis Chapman Faces Doubts Heading into 2026 Season

MLB Network ranked Chapman as the top closer, but the aging pitcher's sudden control improvement raises questions.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 8:55am

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MLB Network ranked Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman as the top reliever in baseball after his dominant 2025 season. However, the author expresses skepticism about whether the 38-year-old Chapman can sustain that level of performance, noting his poor control issues in previous years and questioning his explanation for the sudden turnaround.

Why it matters

The Red Sox are counting on Chapman to anchor their bullpen, so his ability to perform at an elite level is crucial to the team's success. If he regresses, it could create a major hole at the back end of their pitching staff.

The details

In 2025, Chapman posted career-best numbers in several key stats, including ERA+, walk rate, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and WHIP. However, the author points out that Chapman's control issues had been a problem for years prior, and he's skeptical of the pitcher's explanation that 2025 was the first time he tried to control his fastball after 15 seasons in the majors.

  • Chapman will turn 38 years old this season.

The players

Aroldis Chapman

A veteran relief pitcher who has been one of the most dominant closers in baseball over the past decade, recently signing with the Boston Red Sox.

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What they’re saying

“That's right: if Chapman is to be believed, the reason why he suddenly was able to control his fastball after 15 years in the big leagues was that... last year was the first time he tried to control his fastball?”

— Dan Secatore, Author

What’s next

The Red Sox and their fans will be closely watching Chapman's performance in spring training and the early part of the 2026 season to see if he can maintain the control and dominance he displayed in 2025.

The takeaway

While Chapman's 2025 season was exceptional, his advanced age and previous history of control issues raise legitimate concerns about whether he can sustain that level of performance. The Red Sox are taking a risk by relying on him as their closer, and his ability to prove the doubters wrong will be crucial to their bullpen's success.