Pirates get good news on 0.46 ERA trade target amid Red Sox rumor

The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the better teams in the National League this season, but some clear issues need to be resolved, ideally, through moves at the trade deadline.

While the designated hitter spot is a huge issue, with Marcell Ozuna's struggles, the bullpen is also something that, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, the Pirates are looking to explore.

And not long after that report, USA Today's Bob Nightengale shared a trade rumor that's some good news for the Pirates, as Boston Red Sox 0.46 ERA closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to leave the Red Sox in a trade this summer.

Pirates get good news on odds for Aroldis Chapman trade

"Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to join his eighth different team, and potentially be in the postseason with his sixth different team," Nightengale writes. "He is the top reliever on every contender's target list, converting 28 consecutive saves dating back to last season, one shy of his career record."

This rumor from Nightengale suggests that Chapman is going to be on the move this summer, despite other Red Sox rumors pointing to the contrary.

But, for the Pirates, a team that's already exploring reliever help, and could target Chapman to be their new closer, this update is some good news.

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While there is still a lot of uncertainty about whether they could actually pull off a trade for Chapman, the door seems to be more open than before for the eight-time All-Star with a 0.46 ERA.

Adding Chapman, the veteran closer who might be the best reliever available on the market this summer, would be a very fun pickup for the Pirates' bullpen.

He'd reunite with the Pirates after a year and a half in Boston, and this time join as the superstar reliever who's still a flame-thrower at 38 years old. He's also under club control for the 2027 season, all the more reason why Chapman should be a Pirates trade target.

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