“I don’t know,” Chapman said last week. “What do you think?”
That’s a good question. As a Hall of Fame voter, relievers are tricky. Mariano Rivera was obviously an easy box to check, Billy Wagner far less so. Jansen could become only the third closer in history with 500 saves later this season and he doesn’t feel automatic in any way.
The only true relievers in Cooperstown are Rivera, Wagner, Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter, and Hoyt Wilhelm.
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Dennis Eckersley had 390 saves and made 361 starts. John Smoltz made 361 starts, became a closer who recorded 154 saves, then made 120 more starts.
Chapman’s tenure with the Red Sox is helping his case. He was an All-Star last season who converted 32 of 34 save chances while posting a 1.17 ERA and0.70 WHIP.
Opening Day was more of the same as he retired the side in order on 11 pitches and hit 99.5 m.p.h. It was easy work for him.
“There’s not much in my mind I want to accomplish outside of team goals,” Chapman said via a translator during the final days of spring training. “We have a goal to win the World Series. I’ve won two already [with the Cubs in 2016 and Rangers in ’23] and I want to keep winning more. For me personally, that is what I care about.”
Chapman said several friends mentioned to him that Wagner getting elected in 2025 was a positive for his case. That could well be true.
Wagner was a seven-time All-Star with a 2.31 ERA, 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings, and 422 saves. Chapman is an eight-time All-Star with a 2.52 ERA, 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and 368 saves.
Wagner was 1-1 with a 10.03 ERA in 14 career postseason games and had three saves. Chapman has a 2.26 ERA and 11 saves in 46 career postseason games.
Plus Jay Jaffe’s well-regarded Hall of Fame rankings have Chapman as the 12th best reliever all-time.
“The Hall of Fame is something I can’t control,” Chapman said. “But at the same time I control the numbers that I put up. It’s just not my decision who makes it and who doesn’t.
“When you’re in it, you’re when you’re playing, you’re not really keeping track of your numbers or your milestones. The writers have more information than I do.”
As the Baseball Writers’ Association of America electorate changes and gets younger, relievers could be among the candidates who benefit the most.
The old argument that a reliever is just a failed starter doesn’t play well for a generation that understands the importance of closers and how much value teams place in their late-inning relievers.
Chapman has never started a major league game. The Reds saw him as a reliever at 22 and he was an All-Star for the first time at 24.
“What Chappy does is not something just anybody can do,” Sox bullpen mate Garrett Whitlock said. “He puts a lot of time in to be able to pitch like he does.”
Tony Pérez remains the only Cuban Hall of Famer elected by the BBWAA. Three other Cubans — Martín Dihigo, José Méndez, and Cristóbal Torriente — were selected by committees charged with recognizing the contributions of players from the Negro Leagues.
“For me, being from Cuba, it would mean a lot to get in,” Chapman said. “That is something I think about.”
Once he’s on the ballot, voters would have to consider Chapman’s 30-game suspension for domestic violence in 2016. He allegedly choked his girlfriend at the time then fired eight shots from a gun in the garage of his home.
Chapman was not charged with a crime by police but agreed to the suspension after MLB’s investigation. Four teams have signed him since after conducting background checks.
Andruw Jones, who was elected to the Hall in January, was arrested for a domestic violence incident in 2012 and like Chapman was not charged. The arrest came after the outfielder’s final season in the majors and he did not face suspension.
There’s a five-year gap between retirement and being placed on the Hall of Fame ballot, so this will all be a topic for another day. But after watching Chapman cruise to another save on Opening Day, his Cooperstown credentials are going to be an interesting debate when the time comes.
Terry Francona (left) celebrated his second World Series win as manager of the Red Sox in 2007 alongside general manager Theo Epstein.Chin, Barry
HAPPY REUNION
Cora brings smile to Francona
Terry Francona has no love for Red Sox management after the way his time in Boston ended in 2011. But his face lights up when you mention Alex Cora.
“He’s an easy one to like,” Francona said. “I feel fortunate to have been around so many good people because they’ve helped me get better.”
Cora is one of six current major league managers who played or coached under Francona. When Cora managed the American League All-Star team in 2019, he invited Francona to be one of his coaches.
“For a lot of us, [Francona] is the one we learned from,” Cora said. “Playing for him, you watched everything he did.”
Mike Napoli might be the next branch on Francona’s managing tree. The former Red Sox first baseman (2013-15) is Cincinnati’s assistant bench coach. He’s in his second season on the staff after coaching with the Cubs from 2020-24.
Napoli played for Francona in 2016 when Cleveland went to the World Series.
“I’d like to manage someday. This is the best place for me to learn,” Napoli said. “Being around Tito is a great experience.”
Another former Red Sox player, Bill Haselman, is in his first season as Cincinnati’s catching coach. He was on the Sox staff under Francona from 2004-06.
A few other observations on the Red Sox:
▪ Since the end of the World Series, Roman Anthony has the ninth-best-selling jersey according to Major League Baseball.
Shohei Ohtani, the Joe DiMaggio of jersey sales, has led for three consecutive seasons and has sold the most since 2023.
No other Red Sox were in the top 20. Somehow Kiké Hernández was 12th and Paul Skenes only 18th. Mookie Betts was fourth.
▪ Garrett Crochet is the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1901) to start on Opening Day in his first three seasons as a starter.
▪ Triple-A Worcester’s Opening Day lineup Friday included Kristian Campbell in center field batting second.
He’s signed through 2032, so it’s not really an issue now. But if the 23-year-old Campbell is an outfielder moving forward it’s hard to see where he fits in a lineup that already has 21-year-old Anthony, 25-year-old Ceddanne Rafaela, and 26-year-old Wilyer Abreu.
▪ Former Red Sox who are still free agents: Lucas Giolito, Jose Iglesias, and Justin Turner. Justin Wilson remains unsigned but has apparently decided to retire at 38.
▪ Righthander Tanner Houck, who is recovering from elbow surgery, will do his rehabilitation work during the season in Boston and be around the team. Tristan Casas will remain in Fort Myers as he returns from surgery on his left knee. The first baseman has been taking at-bats but has not yet been cleared to play in games.
▪ Red Sox principal owner [and Globe owner] John Henry ended a 1,745-day absence on social media last week when he replied “Historic” to a post by Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy apologizing for an erroneous comment he made about NESN.
I am told this is industry-practice across MLB these days – allowing teams to televise more spring games. Fair’s fair. In this instance, NESN is being neither greedy, nor cheap. My bad. https://t.co/Tq84CBS3JD
— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) March 23, 2026
Appearing on the “Fenway Rundown” podcast, team president and ownership spokesman Sam Kennedy said he “had to smile” at Henry taking a poke at Shaughnessy.
Fair enough. But Kennedy followed up by saying that the owner’s decision not to engage the media, which goes back to 2020, has “served John well.”
How so? The owners of the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Yankees and other large-market teams take questions on at least an annual basis.
Many Sox fans have become disenchanted with the drop in payroll and other decisions by ownership. They deserve to hear directly from Henry.
ETC.
Boston tried college coach once
Many eyes will be on Giants manager Tony Vitello this season as he makes the transition to the majors from being head coach at the University of Tennessee.
The Boston Americans, the precursors of the Red Sox, tried that once. It’s quite the story.
Center fielder Chick Stahl managed the team for the final 40 games of 1906 and was named manager in ’07 by owner John Taylor, the son of General Charles Henry Taylor, publisher of the Globe.
Stahl arrived at spring training and committed suicide under mysterious circumstances on March 28 by taking poison. Ace pitcher Cy Young managed the team for the first six games of the season.
The Taylor family then turned to George Huff, a team scout who also coached the University of Illinois baseball team.
Reports at the time called the move shocking. Huff did not find pro ball to his liking and resigned after only eight games and a 2-6 record. Infielder Bob Unglaub took over for 29 games before catcher Deacon McGuire finished out the season after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees.
Hill returned to Illinois as baseball coach and athletic director. He also kept scouting and was credited with the signing of future Hall of Famer Tris Speaker out of the Texas League.
The Americans became the Red Sox in 1908.
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani gifted his teammates watches before their Opening Day game.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Luis Robert Jr. played only seven games in spring training for the Mets after being acquired from the White Sox in January. The focus was rebuilding the strength in his legs after a series of injuries. Maybe the Mets have something. Robert was 2 for 4 with a walk, two RBIs, and a nice catch in center field in a season-opening 11-7 victory against the Pirates. The 28-year-old hit 38 home runs and stole 20 bases for the White Sox in 2023 and was an All-Star. He had a .660 OPS over the two seasons that followed and played only 210 games. He hit fifth in the opener behind Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Jorge Polanco. If the Mets can keep him healthy, Robert is going to drive in a lot of runs. Robert also took a poke at the White Sox before the game. “I am sure that the stadium is going to be packed,” he said. “Which is something that over the last few years in Chicago, I didn’t get to experience that.” Meanwhile the White Sox struck out 20 times and six pitchers combined to walk 10 in a 14-2 loss at Milwaukee to open the season … Shohei Ohtani gave his Dodgers teammates each a $4,000 Seiko watch on Opening Day with a note that said, “Let’s three-peat!” Ohtani signed a marketing deal with Seiko earlier this month. Manager Dave Roberts also handed out bottles of Traveller Whiskey … One early impression of the automated ball-strike challenge system: Having a challenge to use in the ninth inning of a close game is going to be huge. Players who overreact to a pitch early in the game and waste a challenge are going to hear it from their teammates and manager … Outfielder Jason Heyward retired after a 16-year career that included 1,575 hits, 186 home runs, and 730 RBIs. The five-time Gold Glover won the 2016 World Series with the Cubs … Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford, Carl’s son, was 2 for 4 in his major league debut. A first-round pick in 2022, Crawford hit only 19 home runs in 325 minor league games but the Phillies believe he will impact the game with his speed, defense, and ability to get on base at the bottom of the order. “He’s different than what we have,” manager Rob Thomson said. “We’re eager to see how it works.” The Phillies also believe ace Zack Wheeler could return to the rotation at some point in April. The righthander has already started a rehab assignment as he returns from thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September … Infielder Max Burt opened the season with Triple-A Toledo after signing with the Tigers. The former Northeastern standout spent eight years in the Yankees organization … Former Boston College player Blake Butera won his first game as manager of the Nationals on Thursday when they beat the Cubs, 10-4. His players tossed Butera into the showers and soaked him with beer and shaving cream. “You envision yourself over and over winning the first game and what that’s going to look like and feel like and all those things,” Butera said. “But until you’re there and it actually happens and you see just how happy the guys are and how fired up everybody was and how well they played, too, it’s way better than you can imagine.” … Heliot Ramos has started in left field for the Giants for two consecutive Opening Days. That would not seem like a big deal except it’s the first time for the Giants since Barry Bonds started in left for the first games of the 2006 and ′07 seasons. Counting Bonds, the Giants had 19 different left fielders on Opening Day from 2007-2025. The group included Roberts, Pat Burrell, Mark DeRosa, Hunter Pence, and Joc Pederson … Through Thursday, 26.1 percent of major league rosters were players from countries or territories outside the United States. That’s 247 players from among 780 active players and 168 on the injured or restricted lists. The Dominican Republic (93), Venezuela (60), and Cuba (20) had the most followed by Canada (17), Japan (14), and Puerto Rico (14). The Brewers, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox each have five Venezuelan players … The Hot Stove Cool Music show is April 11 at the Paradise. Fountains of Wayne is the lead act with Peter Gammons and the Hot Stove All-Stars on hand along with Alexandra Ortiz, David’s daughter. Since 2000, the event has raised more than $20 million to benefit Theo and Paul Epstein’s Foundation To Be Named Later and its college scholarship program. Go to ftbnl.org for tickets and information … Happy birthday to Scott Atchison, who is 50. The righthander pitched for the Red Sox from 2010-12, appearing in 102 games and posting a 3.18 ERA. Atchison was a 49th-round draft pick of the Mariners in 1998 but went on to appear in 298 major league games over nine seasons before working as a scout and a coach. He is now a professional scout for the Yankees.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.