At 38 years old and in his seventeenth season in the Major Leagues, Aroldis Chapman isn't ready to say goodbye to baseball yet. The Boston Red Sox closer revealed to MLB Network's Jon Morosi on Monday, July 20, that he plans to continue playing for at least a couple more seasons. "As long as my arm and body are okay, I'll keep playing," the Cuban said with the same conviction he puts into every fastball he throws from the bullpen.

The statement carries special weight considering the historical context in which Chapman enters this series: 388 career saves, just two shy of tying Dennis Eckersley for ninth place on MLB's all-time list. This is no small detail. Eckersley is a member of the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, and his record has stood for decades. Chapman is on the verge of surpassing it.

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A Career That Keeps Growing

What makes the Cuban Aroldis Chapman's current situation extraordinary isn't just the number. At his age, in a position as physically demanding as closer, he still dominates with authority. In 2026, he boasts a 2.10 ERA, has already set the all-time strikeout record for a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball history, and remains the last line of defense for one of the most competitive teams in the American League.

His resume includes eight All-Star selections, two World Series titles, and two Mariano Rivera Awards for the best relief pitcher in the American League. Few closers in history can boast such a record. And Chapman, far from resting on his laurels, continues to add to it.

What does playing two more seasons mean?

If Chapman fulfills his predictions, he could finish his career with more than 420 saves, a number that would firmly place him among the five best closers of all time and further strengthen his candidacy for Cooperstown. Above him on the all-time list are Trevor Hoffman (601) and Mariano Rivera (652), unattainable marks, but Chapman doesn't need to surpass them to guarantee his place in the Hall of Fame. He's already built enough.

The "Cuban Musketeer" knows exactly how much he has left in the tank and doesn't seem willing to waste a drop. As long as his arm holds up, Chapman will be around for a while.

Who is Aroldis Chapman?

Aroldis Chapman is a 38-year-old Cuban left-handed pitcher born in Holguín. He left Cuba in 2009 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds that same year. He debuted in the Major Leagues in 2010 and throughout his career has worn the uniforms of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Chicago Cubs, Texas, the New York Yankees, and currently Boston. He is the reliever with the most strikeouts in MLB history and one of the three active closers with a chance to approach 500 career saves.