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As the Red Sox limp through what was once envisioned as a promising season, all their fans have to look forward to now is the return they could get for some of their stronger pieces at the trade deadline.
So when Aroldis Chapman drew a precautionary mound visit during Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Braves, more than a few Boston fans surely held their breath.
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Chapman is one of the few Red Sox players to have lived up to his billing, and an injury to the 37-year-old closer would all but decimate one of the few valuable assets on the roster. Manager Alex Cora was asked about the surprising visit by reporters, even though Chapman remained in the game.
“I saw him move his shoulder, kind of like stretching it out,” Cora told reporters, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Gio Rivera. “So I noticed it and we went out there. I asked him and he’s like, ‘I didn’t warm up well,’ which is ironic. He’s probably the hottest arm we have, but the stuff didn’t tell us much.”
Chapman has so far delivered on the one-year, $10.75 million contract his signed last winter. He carries a 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 222 ERA+ in 26 appearances for Boston.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox continue to fade despite Sunday’s win. They entered Monday 3 1/2 games out in the American League East and 3 1/2 games out in the AL Wild Card standings.
Among the names that already have been floated in trade rumors are Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and even Rafael Devers. It was also reported over the offseason that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow explored deals involving Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida, before injuries killed whatever market either might have had.
A meaningful injury to Chapman therefore would be fatal to Boston’s attempt to recoup a return from its offseason acquisition, so Red Sox fans should pray he avoids anything more than minor discomfort.
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