Mariners' dream Red Sox trade target for bullpen seems to be officially available

One of the biggest surprises for the Mariners this season has been Andrés Muñoz. And unfortunately, it's not in a good way.

Seattle's closer is typically one of the most reliable bullpen options in high leverage but has been struggling all year. Just when it looked like things were starting to turn around, he has given up four earned runs in his past four outings, including a game-deciding hit to rookie Kevin McGonigle on Sunday.

Seattle's relief unit has been satisfactory otherwise but they haven't been as exceptional as in years past. Since May 1st, the only member of the bullpen to have more than 10 innings pitched and an ERA under 3.00 is José A. Ferrer. Especially with the recent concerns with Muñoz and the team's high-leverage options, the front office could be forced to take a leap of faith and pursue a southpaw veteran that will reportedly be hitting the market at this year's deadline.

Aroldis Chapman could be an unlikely candidate for the Mariners to elevate their pitching staff

At 38 years old, Chapman has somehow found a way to post pitching numbers in line with his big league prime. He ended 2025 with a 1.17 ERA, 1.73 FIP, and 32 saves over 61.1 innings pitched and he hasn't slowed down. This year, he's off to a similarly hot start, posting a 0.46 ERA with a 1.99 FIP over his first 19.2 innings. He has lost a bit of velocity but his whiff and strikeout rates remain in elite territory.

Despite his best efforts, the Red Sox have struggled to do much of anything this year and with playoff odds of just 22.2% according to FanGraphs, they're looking like clear sellers at the upcoming trade deadline and Chapman is arguably their most valuable asset.

Previously, Boston seemed intent on keeping their bullpen assets around but the organization seems to have changed their tune. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports that Boston is fielding calls on Chapman, while Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the veteran lefty is expected to join his eighth team this summer.

Early deadline rumors are primarily focused on the Mariners pursuing Tarik Skubal but in lieu of beefing up an already crowded rotation, perhaps adding some help to the other part of the pitching staff could deliver more value to the team's postseason chances.

If Seattle does decide to pursue Chapman, it won't be cheap. In addition to having to pay his pro-rated salary of $13 million, the amount of other suitors could drive up the asking price in terms of prospect capital. The Mariners don't exactly have a shortage of young talent in the farm system but the organization has earned a reputation for gatekeeping their best names at all costs.

There's also no guarantee that Chapman's success will carry over to a new team or even through the end of the year. Relievers are notoriously mercurial as demonstrated by the aforementioned issues being faced by Seattle's very own Andrés Muñoz. Nonetheless, the organization hasn't exactly shied away from taking big swings at the trade deadline and perhaps this year, they're finally ready to put it all on the line.

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