Will Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman Win New Award For Relievers?

Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is enjoying a career year. If he can repeat the feat next season, he stands to receive some impressive recognition.

“The Baseball Writers’ Association of America, for the first time, will have a Relief Pitcher of the Year award for both leagues in 2026,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday. “It’ll be the first addition to one of BBWAA’s prestigious awards since 1983 when it included the AL and NL Manager of the Year.

“The award was the brainchild of Hall of Fame writer Jayson Stark, reminding writers that Mariano Rivera, considered the greatest reliever of all time, never once won a single award by the BBWAA, while no reliever has won the Cy Young since Eric Gagne in 2002,” Nightengale added.

The current list of awards presented by the BBWAA includes MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year in each league.

As for Chapman, he is enjoying a renaissance this season in Boston. He has a ridiculous 1.08 ERA in 55 appearances. The southpaw is tied for fifth in the American League with 24 saves.

Only problem is, since the Relief Pitcher of the Year won’t be awarded for the first time until next season, Chapman could end up winning it for another team.

The eight-time All-Star signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox in December and will hit the free-agent market following the 2025 World Series.

Chapman is third among active pitchers and 13th all-time with 359 career saves.

The closest the left-hander has come to winning an award presented by the BBWAA came in 2012. In his first season as full-time closer for the Cincinnati Reds, Chapman finished eighth in Cy Young voting and 12th in MVP voting after recording 38 saves with a 1.51 ERA.