White Sox named best trade fit for Red Sox for 3.03 ERA starter, 0.44 ERA reliever

May 13, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Chicago White Sox have surged from a bottom-of-the-league team the last few years into being a legitimate postseason and AL Central contender this year.

Now that they're back in the hunt for the postseason, the White Sox are expected to be active at the MLB trade deadline as buyers, not sellers like the last few years. In buying players, the starting rotation and bullpen help are high priorities for this club.

With those needs in mind, The Athletic's Jim Bowden named the White Sox as the best fit for two players from the Boston Red Sox: 3.03 ERA starter Sonny Gray and 0.44 ERA closer Aroldis Chapman, in a pair of very interesting trade links.

White Sox are best fit for Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray

"I think the Red Sox fit best with the Phillies or Padres on (Jarren) Duran and the White Sox best on Gray and Chapman," Bowden writes.

This is a very interesting pair of trade links for the White Sox. In a vacuum, both of these players would be huge upgrades for the White Sox and would make sense to acquire in a trade.

But when it comes to Gray, he has a full no-trade clause, making a deal a little trickier to accomplish. If the 36-year-old pitcher okay's a deal, then he would be a nice pickup for the White Sox.

Most importantly, with Gray is that, while his three-year, $75 million deal is up after the 2026 season, he has a 2027 club option the White Sox could pick up to make him more than a rental.

MORE: Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success

Chapman, the 38-year-old flame-throwing closer, is in a similar boat, as his 2027 option will vest if he reaches 40 innings pitched this year, which is very possible as a closer for a good team like the White Sox.

The White Sox could add both Chapman and Gray, two veterans at positions of need, who are also under club control through the 2027 season.

If the White Sox are going to spend this summer, adding players who are more than simple rentals makes the most sense.

Chapman and Gray are just that, and would be great fits in Chicago with a young, ascending team to help this club on a surprise postseason push.

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