Owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Bob Nutting stated to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on January 20 that he anticipated “contention throughout the season” in 2024. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the team signed seven-time All-Star Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.5 million contract just two days later, demonstrating their willingness to pay for results.
After making his Major League debut in 2010, Chapman, 35, has played for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers. The Pirates will be his sixth team in his career. In the offseason, the left-hander inked a $3.75 million, one-year contract with the Royals. However, on June 30, 2023, one of the earliest trade deadline transactions occurred, when he was traded to the Rangers.