The Texas Rangers are having a resurgent season after going through six straight seasons with a losing record. They are currently in first place in the AL West, have the best offense in baseball, and the starting rotation has been solid despite losing Jacob deGrom for the year. However, one glaring weakness this team has is their bullpen. At the deadline, the Rangers need to address it if they want to make a deep postseason run. The pitcher that they should acquire is Kanas City Royals veteran reliever, Aroldis Chapman.
The Royals Are Rebuilding
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Royals are one of the worst teams in baseball this season. It appears Kansas City and the Oakland Athletics are battling for the worst record in the league this season. The only reason the Royals aren’t being talked about more is the drama surrounding Oakland while they lose. Given the state of Kansas City, the Royals will be looking to give up players for more prospects in August. One player that they will be receiving many phone calls about is Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman’s Rebound Season
Embed from Getty ImagesThis past offseason, the Royals signed Chapman to essentially trade him with the front office even admitting it. Kansas City inked him to a low-risk one-year, $3.75 million deal. Prior to signing with Kansas City, Chapman had a tumultuous final season with the Yankees. In 2022, Chapman lost his closer role, struggled with command and control all year, landed on the injured list due to a leg infection stemming from getting a new tattoo, and refused to show up to a postseason practice due to not being guaranteed a roster spot. Unsurprisingly, New York unceremoniously let him become a free agent. Chapman would finish the 2022 season with career-highs in ERA and FIP. Outside of the shortened 2020 season, he would also have career lows in innings pitched and strikeouts. Most people thought that the Chapman would give the Royals very little value.
Aroldis Chapman has given the Royals a lot more value than initially expected. So far this season, Chapman has looked like the pitcher that electrified baseball from 2012-2019. Since coming to Kansas City, Chapman has been having a big bounce-back year. He is currently 1-2 with an ERA of 2.70, two saves, 41 strikeouts, and a FIP of 1.69. Although he isn’t the closer, Chapman has proven to be the Royals’ most valuable arm out of the bullpen. With Chapman having a strong year, the Royals can get a solid return for the veteran reliever. After all, the Rangers have a surplus of top prospects in their farm system particularly infielders. The Royals need all the prospects they can get in their rebuild.
Texas’s Bullpen Struggles
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Rangers’ success this season has overshadowed the bullpen’s struggles. This season, Texas’s bullpen has an ERA of 4.46. The only teams who have higher earned run averages are the Athletics, Dodgers, Royals, Nationals, and White Sox. The bullpen has also struck out the least number of hitters in 2023. The success of the starting rotation has insulated the problem as Ranger relievers have pitched in the least number of innings.
Chapman’s Role Wouldn’t Change
Embed from Getty ImagesGiven the success that Rangers closer Will Smith is having this season, Chapman wouldn’t even need to be the closer. He would be able to step into almost the same role that he’s had with the Royals. With how much success Chapman has been having this season, the transition should be seamless. The only change is that he would now be pitching on a team that’s contending for the postseason and not one that’s rebuilding.
Chapman Would Bring Plenty of Experience to Texas
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the Rangers’ current team, only one pitcher has ever pitched in the postseason and that’s closer Will Smith. Chapman has pitched in 35 career postseason games including the World Series in 2016. He’s had a lot of postseason success, Chapman has a career ERA of 2.40 with 10 saves, 62 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.065. Having a pitcher like Chapman in the bullpen will greatly benefit the other relievers with his experience. Chapman would also give manager Bruce Bochy an experienced and reliable arm come October.
While the Rangers could add another starting pitcher this trade deadline, they need to address the issues surrounding their bullpen. Texas’s model of relying on their starting pitchers to constantly go deep into ball games isn’t sustainable; most championship clubs have a reliable bullpen they can go to in a close game. Having an arm like Chapman will greatly help the bullpen and give Bruce Bochy an experienced and successful postseason pitcher.
For more on baseball, check out Belly Up Sports and follow Eric on Twitter.
