The New York Mets are widely expected to bolster their bullpen at the upcoming trade deadline, with the main question being which reliever(s) they’ll bring in.
Several high-profile names have been linked to the Mets, and now ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan suggest that He could be a strong fit for New York—assuming the Red Sox decide to move him.
“You’ve probably heard this before: He is a hard-throwing lefty who leans heavily on his fastball—he throws it over 75% of the time and averages just under 100 mph,” McDaniel and Passan noted. “At 37, he’s still dominant. Best fits: Mets, Phillies, Tigers.”
While ESPN kept their assessment brief, there’s plenty more to highlight. Chapman has pitched in 35 games this season, saving 14 of them for Boston. He’s allowed only five earned runs, giving him a stellar 1.41 ERA.
He’s showing shades of his early dominance with the Reds, when hitters would dread his entrance. Chapman is currently striking out five batters for every one he walks—a level of efficiency he hasn’t reached since the shortened 2020 season with the Yankees.
His Baseball Savant metrics are also eye-popping, ranking in the 95th percentile or higher in six key areas, including expected ERA and chase rate.
The Red Sox still have postseason aspirations, but even a small stumble could push them out of the race—at which point Chapman could become a prime trade candidate.
For the Mets, acquiring Chapman would be a game-changer. Pairing him with Edwin Díaz would give them two elite late-inning arms, making their bullpen a nightmare for opposing teams and giving New York a legitimate shot at another deep playoff run.
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