Red Sox and closer Aroldis Chapman agree to $13.3 million contract for 2026 with a 2027 option

BOSTON (AP) — All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman showed up for Monday's news conference wearing a T-shirt with a weight lifting dumbbell across the front and a Boston Red Sox logo in the middle.

Judging by his size and commitment to working out, it's easy to see why the 37-year-old maintains a 100 mph fastball.

“This morning at 9 o'clock he was already in the weight room,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said one day after the team finalized a $13.3 million, one-year contract for 2026.

“I think that that’s something you would point at when you ask how can someone throw 100 miles per hour for 15 years now and just continue to have successful season after successful season.”

Chapman's deal contains a vesting option for 2027 and would pay $26 million over two years if he pitches at least 40 innings next season. The team announced the deal Sunday following a 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-4 on Monday, with Chapman getting the final three outs for his 28th save.

Asked whether he ever felt old around younger players, Chapman said through an interpreter: “No, no I feel the same as they are — 27, 25."

Chapman, who earned his eighth All-Star selection this season, entered Monday with an average fastball velocity of 100.9 mph. He had thrown 156 pitches of 100 mph or higher, sixth in the major leagues behind 27-year-old Mason Miller, Daniel Palencia (25), Jhoan Duran (27), Hunter Greene (26) and Seth Halvorsen (25).

Pitchers Garrett Crochet, Greg Weissert and Brennan Bernardino and young star Roman Anthony were among Chapman's teammates at the news conference.

Chapman gets a $13 million salary next year. If the left-hander reaches 40 innings in 2026, a $13 million salary in 2027 would become guaranteed. If he doesn't pitch at least 40 inning, he would receive a $300,000 buyout unless both sides accept a mutual option, which would be unlikely.

“Of course you think about it," said Chapman. “I wanted to stay here and we started to think about it, having conversations.”

Breslow side the sides started to chat about it a couple of weeks ago.

“When players are pretty vocal about enjoying their time here, it certainly makes sense and it's worth pursuing," Breslow said. “Aroldis has spoken glowingly about his time here."

Chapman is having perhaps his best year, with a career-low 1.02 ERA during his 16th major league season and first in Boston. He converted his 27th save in 29 chances on Sunday.

“I think this guy has been great for us, and not only on the field,” manager Alex Cora said before Sunday's game. “What he’s done on the field is amazing.”

After earning his 350th save on July 1, Chapman said his goal was to reach 400.

“I want to keep throwing until I know that it’s time,” he said. “I don’t want to retire then two or three years have that regret that I could have done more.”

He extended his career-best hitless streak to 16 games on Monday, the longest in club history and tied for the third-longest in the major leagues since 1901.

Chapman is 59-47 with a 2.52 ERA and 362 saves for the Reds (2010-15), Yankees (2016-22), Cubs (2016), Royals (2023), Rangers (2023), Pirates (2024) and Red Sox (2025). He ranks third in strikeouts by a relief pitcher (1,322) and 13th on the career saves list.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, left, and pitcher Aroldis Chapman, right, high-five after a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, left, and Aroldis Chapman (44) shake hands at the end of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday fired off another warning to the government of Cuba as the close ally of Venezuela braces for potential widespread unrest after Nicolás Maduro was deposed as Venezuela's leader.

Cuba, a major beneficiary of Venezuelan oil, has now been cut off from those shipments as U.S. forces continue to seize tankers in an effort to control the production, refining and global distribution of the country's oil products.

Trump said on social media that Cuba long lived off Venezuelan oil and money and had offered security in return, “BUT NOT ANYMORE!”

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO!” Trump said in the post as he spent the weekend at his home in southern Florida. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” He did not explain what kind of deal.

The Cuban government said 32 of its military personnel were killed during the American operation last weekend that captured Maduro. The personnel from Cuba’s two main security agencies were in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, as part of an agreement between Cuba and Venezuela.

“Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” Trump said Sunday. “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will.”

Trump also responded to another account’s social media post predicting that his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will be president of Cuba: “Sounds good to me!” Trump said.

Trump and top administration officials have taken an increasingly aggressive tone toward Cuba, which had been kept economically afloat by Venezuela. Long before Maduro's capture, severe blackouts were sidelining life in Cuba, where people endured long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid the island’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Trump has said previously that the Cuban economy, battered by years of a U.S. embargo, would slide further with the ouster of Maduro.

“It’s going down,” Trump said of Cuba. “It’s going down for the count.”

A person watches the oil tanker Ocean Mariner, Monrovia, arrive to the bay in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

President Donald Trump attends a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)