Chapman And Whitlock Anchor Red Sox Bullpen For 2027

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesThe Boston Red Sox have a clear plan for the 2027 season, and it starts with two dominant arms. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock will lead the bullpen again after a historic 2026 run. This is not a hopeful guess. The numbers prove it, and the money is already set. Per Yahoo Sports, the pair allowed just 21 earned runs over 104 innings to post a 1.82 ERA.Chapman turned 38 and still dominated the league. He posted a 1.92 ERA in 51.2 innings, which ranked as the 10th-lowest mark among all qualified relievers. His 35 saves were the fifth-most in baseball. He also became the all-time reliever strikeout king, passing Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm. Chapman now sits ninth on the all-time saves list with 402 career saves. Chapman exercised his 2027 option worth $13 million after pitching over 40 innings and clearing his year-end physical. This deal locks in the best closer in the game.The Setup Man Is Just as CriticalGarrett Whitlock does the heavy lifting before Chapman enters the game. Among 143 qualified relievers, his 1.72 ERA from 54 regular-season outings ranked sixth-lowest. With 2.73 in win probability added, Whitlock placed 12th across all relievers. His role is to set the table for Chapman, and he does it better than almost anyone else. Since Whitlock’s 2027 option was picked up, the Red Sox are likely to keep most of their bullpen for next season. The front office made the right call to keep this core together.Beyond the Top TwoThe rest of the unit looks solid too, even if the spotlight stays on the top two. After skipping major league action since 2019, 35-year-old Tanner Guerrero became one of baseball’s top relievers for much of 2026. In 40.2 innings, Guerrero posted a 3.10 ERA. He provides a necessary bridge that keeps the score low before the final inning. The depth here is rare in modern baseball. Unless something unexpected occurs, this duo will return in 2027 as one of the sport’s premier bullpen pairs. In 2026, the Red Sox bullpen recorded a 3.00 ERA, which was the best figure in baseball.