If the Red Sox are selling, who are you buying?

[Brock Beauchamp]

They have a lot of positional pieces but they suck because they have no pitching.

If A Red Sox Fire Sale Happens, These Players Could Be on the Move - Red Sox - Talk Sox

TALKSOX.COM

---

As of this writing, the Boston Red Sox sit at a record of 30-34, putting them nine and a half games back of the AL East-leading Yankees, and four games out of the Wild Card race. Although...

[gflore34]

Buehler and I do not believe he would command a haul, well, at least, he shouldn't command a haul.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Very curious if the Red Sox feel like they're about out of ideas to get Bello to another level, and if the newer Cubs pitching infrastructure feels they can unlock something in him.

[muntjack]

That Bleacher Report list for potential Jarren Duran trades was some high comedy.

[Bertz]

I like Houck a lot coming into the year, and like TT I wouldn't say no to Bello, but both of those are clearly 2026+ moves.  It's highly unlikely you're fixing either guy on the fly (Houck especially who has some injury contributing to his issues).

Short term Chapman’s a great fit, but horsefeathers that guy so pass.  Giolito looks completely cooked so no thanks there, I wouldn'teven want to spend the roster spot on him at the moment.  Beuhler isn't great, but I like him more than Rea?  I'd take him if the cost was just some cap space.

Garret Whitlock seems like he'd be a legitimately impactful reliever.  I think he's the only pitcher on that roster I'd be excited for.

[JBears79]

Chapman and Buehler seem like the two logical fits. 

[Tim]

7 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Chapman...

Nope. No thank you.

[Tryptamine]

I wonder if the Cubs don't say to themselves, hey the type of pitching we really need isn't out there, so maybe we just make an absolutely insane offense and bring in Bregman. Then they just fill the rotation with lower cost guys who are FAs at the end of the year. Bregman is almost certainly opting out after this year so there isn't much commitment.

[ryanrc]

lets get real- this is a question about the bullpen. 
I'd take Chapman back in a heartbeat. 

That's the answer. 
He would Take Genesis Cabrera's roster spot, or whomever is lefty and hurt. 

[Bull]

12 hours ago, ryanrc said:

lets get real- this is a question about the bullpen. 
I'd take Chapman back in a heartbeat. 

That's the answer. 
He would Take Genesis Cabrera's roster spot, or whomever is lefty and hurt. 

*grabs bucket of popcorn without taking his eyes off the screen*

[Post Count Padder]

18 hours ago, ryanrc said:

lets get real- this is a question about the bullpen. 
I'd take Chapman back in a heartbeat. 

That's the answer. 
He would Take Genesis Cabrera's roster spot, or whomever is lefty and hurt. 

No.

[ryanrc]

16 hours ago, Bull said:

*grabs bucket of popcorn without taking his eyes off the screen*

Aroldis Chapman Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | baseballsavant.com

He's got an all-star 2025 profile, via baseball savant, with one of the best run values, xERA, and ERAs in the league. He is the hardest throwing lefty in the game, with elite experience and elite postseason performance. What more could you want?

In fact, he's one of the only bullpen vet pitchers I'd consider acquiring. In general, our primary need currently is a single vet 8th inning guy - the best we can find. And Chapman is on that very short list this year. 

Beyond that, the Cubs' only other need is a #2 starter to work between Imanaga and Boyd. My preferred trade target is Mahle from the Rangers- maybe a one-year wonder, but that's perfectly what we need. 

Adding Mahle and Chapman would be almost as good as Mahle and Robertson - either combo would be confidence-inspiring. There's a few other pitchers worth considering,     

[NorthsideAvenger]

3 hours ago, ryanrc said:

Aroldis Chapman Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | baseballsavant.com

He's got an all-star 2025 profile, via baseball savant, with one of the best run values, xERA, and ERAs in the league. He is the hardest throwing lefty in the game, with elite experience and elite postseason performance. What more could you want?

In fact, he's one of the only bullpen vet pitchers I'd consider acquiring. In general, our primary need currently is a single vet 8th inning guy - the best we can find. And Chapman is on that very short list this year. 

Beyond that, the Cubs' only other need is a #2 starter to work between Imanaga and Boyd. My preferred trade target is Mahle from the Rangers- maybe a one-year wonder, but that's perfectly what we need. 

Adding Mahle and Chapman would be almost as good as Mahle and Robertson - either combo would be confidence-inspiring. There's a few other pitchers worth considering,     

All fine and dandy but that is not why this site does not want Chapman. Him being scum is the reason.

[Tryptamine]

7 hours ago, ryanrc said:

Aroldis Chapman Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | baseballsavant.com

He's got an all-star 2025 profile, via baseball savant, with one of the best run values, xERA, and ERAs in the league. He is the hardest throwing lefty in the game, with elite experience and elite postseason performance. What more could you want?

In fact, he's one of the only bullpen vet pitchers I'd consider acquiring. In general, our primary need currently is a single vet 8th inning guy - the best we can find. And Chapman is on that very short list this year. 

Beyond that, the Cubs' only other need is a #2 starter to work between Imanaga and Boyd. My preferred trade target is Mahle from the Rangers- maybe a one-year wonder, but that's perfectly what we need. 

Adding Mahle and Chapman would be almost as good as Mahle and Robertson - either combo would be confidence-inspiring. There's a few other pitchers worth considering,     

It's not about Chapman not being good, it's about him being a dick. I'm not dumb enough to believe all the current Cubs are nice guys, but when I actively know a player is a dick, then I'm not interested in bringing them in. I'm not going to cheer for a piece of horsefeathers just because he's on my team.

[JunkyardWalrus]

48 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

It's not about Chapman not being good, it's about him being a dick. I'm not dumb enough to believe all the current Cubs are nice guys, but when I actively know a player is a dick, then I'm not interested in bringing them in. I'm not going to cheer for a piece of horsefeathers just because he's on my team.

So you didn't cheer for him during the World Series run? C'mon.

[mul21]

1 minute ago, JunkyardWalrus said:

So you didn't cheer for him during the World Series run? C'mon.

I can say I was real happy he wasn't on the mound at the end of game 7.

[JunkyardWalrus]

1 minute ago, mul21 said:

I can say I was real happy he wasn't on the mound at the end of game 7.

I too didn’t want the horse Maddon rode through the ground out there either. But I don't believe that's what you mean.

[Derwood]

5 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I can say I was real happy he wasn't on the mound at the end of game 7.

I mean, he was, until he gave up the game-tying homer

[Hot Sauce]

1 hour ago, Derwood said:

I mean, he was, until he gave up the game-tying homer

The HR came in the 8th. Chapman came back out to work a scoreless 9th pretty much pitching on fumes.

[ryanrc]

5 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

It's not about Chapman not being good, it's about him being a dick. I'm not dumb enough to believe all the current Cubs are nice guys, but when I actively know a player is a dick, then I'm not interested in bringing them in. I'm not going to cheer for a piece of horsefeathers just because he's on my team.

In baseball, the bullpen is usually a mercenary role, and nice guys don't earn any advantages in that space. You don't want anyone toxic in the dugout or starting rotation - character goes a long way when you're a long term role player and a daily part of the community. However, I'll ALWAYS take an all-star bullpen mercenary who quietly shows up, does his thing, and then takes off without talking to anyone - provided he doesn't actually do anything illegal or start fights with everyone. Chapman doesn't really fit into either of those dealbreakers - he's not a gangster or sociopath as far as we can tell. He's just a solo act- like some other bullpen guys, he treats his job like a job. He does it for the money. I'm happy to pay ONE elite bullpen mercenary.  

[mul21]

44 minutes ago, ryanrc said:

In baseball, the bullpen is usually a mercenary role, and nice guys don't earn any advantages in that space. You don't want anyone toxic in the dugout or starting rotation - character goes a long way when you're a long term role player and a daily part of the community. However, I'll ALWAYS take an all-star bullpen mercenary who quietly shows up, does his thing, and then takes off without talking to anyone - provided he doesn't actually do anything illegal or start fights with everyone. Chapman doesn't really fit into either of those dealbreakers - he's not a gangster or sociopath as far as we can tell. He's just a solo act- like some other bullpen guys, he treats his job like a job. He does it for the money. I'm happy to pay ONE elite bullpen mercenary.  

He choked out his spouse, so yeah, he kinda does fit into that doing illegal things category.  He's a trash person, so no thanks.

[Derwood]

I don't care if Chapman has a 0.00 ERA and a 27/9 K rate, he can go fall in a hole

[Rcal10]

On 6/11/2025 at 4:24 PM, Derwood said:

I don't care if Chapman has a 0.00 ERA and a 27/9 K rate, he can go fall in a hole

Seems like half our country doesn’t care that our president has done far worse to far more people than Chapman ever did. So why should I care about what he did 10 years ago. If he can help the Cubs. I am fine with trading for him. I can’t be the moral police any longer. No one cares about anything anymore. And anyone who is ok with the actions of our leader yet doesn’t want Chapman for his indiscretions is a hypocrite. I don’t condone what he did. But if he hasn’t done something since the Cubs has him last, I need to let his past go. Again, our leader fought to get Rose off the ineligible list for the HOF. And he is a child molester who also gambleed on baseball, so …🤷 I give up. 

[javy knows my name]

4 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Seems like half our country doesn’t care that our president has done far worse to far more people than Chapman ever did. So why should I care about what he did 10 years ago. If he can help the Cubs. I am fine with trading for him. I can’t be the moral police any longer. No one cares about anything anymore. And anyone who is ok with the actions of our leader yet doesn’t want Chapman for his indiscretions is a hypocrite. I don’t condone what he did. But if he hasn’t done something since the Cubs has him last, I need to let his past go. Again, our leader fought to get Rose off the ineligible list for the HOF. And he is a child molester who also gambleed on baseball, so …🤷 I give up. 

Don't give up; take a moral stand against trash humans. It sounds like you're in protect mode too much to be curious about the fact that like 98% of the active board agrees with your stance on Trump. So I honestly don't know who you're addressing here.

[Rcal10]

14 hours ago, javy knows my name said:

Don't give up; take a moral stand against trash humans. It sounds like you're in protect mode too much to be curious about the fact that like 98% of the active board agrees with your stance on Trump. So I honestly don't know who you're addressing here.

I am not sure what you mean by me being too much in protest mode, but I do know most posters share my views politically, here. So going back to baseball, I try to seperate my view of a ballplayers and how he plays the game from my view of him personally. I know there are a lot of bad actors in sports and frankly everywhere. So hard for me to get worked up if the Cubs did trade for Chapman. I don’t like him personally, but I wouldn’t disown the Cubs if they did trade for him.