Report: White Sox Nearly Traded for Future Hall of Famer
The White Sox were reportedly close to acquiring Aroldis Chapman before the Red Sox surged back into contention.
Video Transcript
Did the Chicago White Sox almost trade for a future Hall of Fame closer?
Conflicting reports today across Major League Baseball as the Boston Red Sox have won 15 games in a row heading into Wednesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles and shortly before the All-Star break, it was the White Sox who were swept by Boston, an opponent that came in, and I predicted, would give the White Sox a hard time.
Boston was coming in with momentum, coming in hungry, knowing things were dire for them and that they needed to put a streak together in order to convince the Red Sox not to sell and to buy at the trade deadline.
They've done that.
Winners of 15 in a row.
They've got themselves back in the AL playoff picture, and yeah, the White Sox have bounced back fine.
They swept the Athletics to close out the first half.
They took a series from the Toronto Blue Jays.
They've got a rubber match on Wednesday night against the Rangers with a fifty-three and forty-seven record.
But some sub, some reports suggest that the White Sox might have cost themselves a future Hall of Fame relief pitcher in the process.
George Offman, longtime Chicago sports media personality in the industry for over 50 years, on social media Wednesday shared that the White Sox were, quote, "extremely close to acquiring Aroldis Chapman before the Red Sox went on their stunning win streak."
Now, this has been refuted.
Respected, Red Sox beat reporter Chris Cotillo, of masslive.com was quick to refute the claim, said that people with the Red Sox have shut it down.
Who knows, where the truth actually falls?
I don't think it would be a shock if the White Sox were at least interested in Chapman.
How close they actually got to getting a deal done, we'll see.
But regardless, Chapman is off the market now.
It's all a moot point because the Red Sox are back in the playoff picture and aren't going to be sellers, and it would have been a massive boost for Chicago.
Aroldis Chapman was the AL Reliever of the Year in twenty twenty-five with a one one seven ERA, 32 saves.
He's got a one one one ninety-nine ERA with 22 saves, bringing his career total up to three hundred and eighty-nine in twenty twenty-six.
Two straight All-Star appearances here, and he is now one save behind Dennis Eckersley for ninth on the all-time save list.
This is going to be a future Hall of Famer.
This is a guy that, very easily could have found himself in the White Sox bullpen and given them a clear boost.
But there will be plenty of other opportunities for Chris Getz and the White Sox to get that high leverage relief pitcher that they covet at the deadline.
Chapman was the easy on paper fit.
I'm not sure it was ever going to be the deal that perfectly worked out for Chicago, but you have seen in the past, the twenty sixteen Cubs, the twenty twenty-three Texas Rangers, you trade for Aroldis Chapman, he can help you win a World Series.
But either way, Chapman off the market now.
And we know the White Sox at least had some interest, which could be a good sign that they are in the closer market before the deadline arrives in two weeks' time.
