Jeff Passan breathes life into Pirates fans’ dream bullpen trade

The Pittsburgh Pirates desperately need bullpen help, and according to ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, one of the biggest names on the relief market could be an ideal fit.

In ESPN's latest ranking of the top 100 trade candidates ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman was listed as one of the Pirates' best fits. For Pirates fans who watched Chapman thrive in Pittsburgh just two seasons ago, it's the kind of deadline connection that's impossible to ignore.

The Pirates have spent most of 2026 overcoming bullpen meltdowns, often unsuccessfully. Even after climbing back to .500 and moving within striking distance of a National League Wild Card spot with a win over the Athletics on Tuesday, relief pitching remains the biggest obstacle standing between Pittsburgh and meaningful baseball in September.

Pittsburgh entered this week ranked 20th in MLB with a 4.44 bullpen ERA. Too often, quality starts from Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft and the rest of the rotation have gone to waste because the bullpen couldn't finish the job.

Chapman would immediately change that. At 38 years old, the seven-time All-Star is putting together one of the best seasons of his career in Boston. He owns a microscopic 0.44 ERA with 14 saves and 28 strikeouts in just 20.1 innings. According to ESPN, he's still overpowering hitters with upper-90s velocity while mixing in a deeper arsenal than he had during his peak years.

An Aroldis Chapman reunion would make sense for Pirates, but trading for him won't be easy

Most importantly, Chapman is exactly the type of reliever contenders fight over every July. As Passan noted, every team needs bullpen help. The Pirates are no exception.

Unlike many rental relievers, though, Chapman also wouldn't be a pure short-term addition. His contract includes a mutual option for 2027, potentially giving Pittsburgh some flexibility beyond this season if both sides were interested in extending the relationship.

Of course, there are obstacles. Chapman is earning $13 million this season, and any deal would require ownership to absorb additional payroll. That's never a certainty with Bob Nutting, even after the Pirates pushed spending to franchise-record levels this offseason.

The acquisition cost won't be insignificant, either. With Chapman pitching at an elite level and multiple contenders expected to pursue him, Boston will have plenty of leverage. Still, if the Pirates are serious about buying at the deadline, this is exactly the type of move they should explore.

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