Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs have been connected to quite a few names in trade rumors already. With the deadline coming up in just a few short weeks, they are expected to be one of the more aggressive buyers in Major League Baseball.
At this point in the season, the Cubs are the fourth-best team in baseball. They entered Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with a 54-37 record.
Now, the question becomes, what will Chicago choose to do at the deadline?
One major area of need comes in the bullpen. While the Cubs are better this season in that category than they were last year, there is still need for improvement. An intriguing name has been suggested as a possible target.
Chicago Cubs Connected to Big Trade for $10.75 Million Relief Pitcher
MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic has named Chicago as one of the top potential trade suitors for Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman.
Of course, that is a name that Cubs fans are very familiar with. Chapman was a part of the 2016 team that won the World Series. Bringing him back would be an awesome moment for both him and the fans who loved him during his time in Chicago.
During the 2025 MLB season thus far with the Red Sox, Chapman has been elite. He has appeared in 39 games, compiling a 3-2 record to go along with a 1.25 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, a 5.3 K/BB ratio, 15 saves, three holds, and one blown save. Those numbers would be a huge upgrade for the Cubs.
While he is now 37 years old, Chapman is playing some of the best baseball of his career. He has been a major force for Boston and would bring that same level of dominance to Chicago.
Depending on the price tag, the Cubs would be wise to pursue a trade for him. There is no guarantee that Boston will trade him, but he’s worth making an aggressive push to acquire.
Expect to continue hearing a ton of rumors surrounding Chicago. Hoyer knows that the championship window is open for the Cubs and a trade for Chapman would increase those chances in a big way.
