There is always a point in an MLB season when murmurs begin to turn into full-blown interaction. Whispers from dugouts, speculation on broadcasts, and management chess moves—this is that moment. As the trade deadline comes closer, the air is thick with buzz. Some teams are fighting to stay afloat. Others, like the one from Windy City, are looking to level up.

The Cubs have entered that part of the year where focus meets scope. With postseason dreams still alive, the team is scanning the market, and there is one Red Sox star catching the spotlight. The stage is set. The concern now is: Will they make the move before someone else does?

Mike Rodriguez shared, “The #Cubs probability to land this guy is higher if they are fighting for the Central Division.” With the division looking wide open, all eyes are on the North Side. The guy?

None other than Aroldis Chapman, the $10.75 million Red Sox star. Like Gordo said, “Scouts already are keeping an eye on Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman, who will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline if the Red Sox fall out of the AL East race.”

Chapman has been a force and posted a 1.88 ERA, with 32 strikeouts and 9 saves in 10 opportunities this season. The closer is not slowing down; he is just waiting for the right stage.

Now, there is a large question—why the Cubs? For starters, the team’s bullpen has been vital, not stacked. Reliever Drew Pomeranz, Daniel Palencia, and Brad Keller have done their jobs. But if the Cubs want to get to October, the management needs more than “good.” The team needs to be “dominant.” Chapman not only has the heat but also experience—a 2x World Series veteran with postseason nerves of steel. He has seen Game 7 under the brightest lights and did not flinch.

Then again, we can not forget the financials. Chapman’s $10.75M price tag sounds hefty, but to a team hunting for rings, it is barely a speed bump. If the Cubs do pull the trigger, they will not just be gaining velocity on the mound—they will be sending a message: We are ready to win now.

While the Red Sox are still mathematically alive in the AL East, sitting 8.5 games behind the Yankees and under .500, the writing could already be on the wall.

As trade buzz continues to heat up, one aspect is clear—this is not just a rumor. It is a high-stakes scope, and the Cubs could be the team desperate enough to grab it. And while trade talks swirl around Chapman, a distinctive kind of buzz is building around Garrett Crochet, too.

The rising star redefining the Red Sox’s rotation

While the Cubs are circling Aroldis Chapman, the Red Sox have identified a new heartbeat in their starting rotation—Garrett Crochet. He is a lefty with ice in his veins and a cutter that is baffling hitters.

Crochet has been deemed the team’s go-to guy every five days. The star’s performance against the Braves was no fluke. He delivered 12 strikeouts, 7 dominant innings, and a season-high 112 pitches. That is a statement in itself. As Trevor Story put it, “He sets the tone for us.”

The star has already racked up 20 strikeouts in just two games against the Braves this season and has enabled only three runs, all solo shots. He is evolving mid-season, adjusting pitch utilization and executing game approaches with maturity well beyond his experience level. “It is not like I am trying to hit a number,” he said to the reporters, “but you feel it out there.”

And now, Alex Cora is leaning into a more aggressive schedule, providing the star extra rest to push deeper into games. 

Of course, such pitching only counts if it leads to wins, and that is where the support comes in. For once, the team provided Crochet a little breathing room with Trevor Story’s three-run double, and the lefty took it from there. It is a refreshing transformation from the 6-6 team record in his first 12 starts. “We kicked the field goal and played good defense,” Cora joked. However, behind the joke was a message: When the star gets run support, the team is dangerous.

Still, Boston’s offense remains a question mark—solid one inning; silence in the next. Cora admitted, “We need more.”

And with postseason hopes hanging in the balance, every start like Crochet’s counts. He’s giving Boston a real shot every time he takes the hill, and with performances like this, he might just shift the team’s deadline focus entirely. If Crochet can keep this up, even without Chapman, the Red Sox will be a threat—it’s the ace they’ve grown at home.

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