Overview
- Chapman completed his 40th inning on Saturday in Pittsburgh while closing a 4-0 Red Sox win, throwing 10 strikes on 15 pitches and recording two strikeouts.
- That appearance activated the vesting threshold in his contract and will convert to an active 2027 club option once he clears a routine post‑season physical.
- The option guarantees Chapman at least $13 million for 2027 and includes award-based escalators that add as much as $1 million for a reliever-of-the-year honor and smaller bonuses for top finishes.
- Sterling performance this year underpins the move: Chapman has a roughly 2.04 ERA, 27 saves and has anchored a Boston bullpen that ranks among the majors' best.
- The innings milestone gives the Red Sox clarity for next season’s bullpen planning and secures Chapman pay and role stability, with medical clearance remaining the final formal step.