Walker Buehler joined Philadelphia on a one-year deal, was assigned to Lehigh Valley, and could join the Phillies’ postseason rotation after Wheeler’s surgery. Boston cut him days earlier, leaving Philly to chase depth for October.

His playoff pedigree is elite (3.04 ERA in the postseason) while his 2024 Boston line (7-7, 5.45 ERA in 22 starts) hints at rust. The contract pays a month at the league minimum ($760k), a small risk for big upside if he recaptures form late in the season.

Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a 2026 contract worth 13.3 million with a vesting option for 2027, guaranteeing 26 million over two years if he pitches 40 innings next season. The 37-year-old closer has been superb in Boston, posting a 1.04 ERA in 57 appearances across 52 innings with 27 saves and a 15-game streak without allowing a hit—the longest in club history and the longest MLB streak since 2013.

Trump pushes for Roger Clemens’ Hall of Fame induction via the Era Committees, arguing talent should trump a PED-era stigma even as MLB has no formal say in the process. Clemens’ career numbers—two World Series titles and seven Cy Youngs—stand out, but the Mitchell Report and related PED scrutiny linger. Pete Rose’s redemption arc is invoked as a blueprint, while Clemens teases potential legal action against baseball. The piece frames Clemens’ bid as a clash between precedent, optics, and faith in on-field greatness.

The report notes Clemens’ retirement year (2007) and the Era Committees’ gatekeeping role for long-odds candidates, contrasted with Rose’s ultimate Hall fate and the broader debate over redemption. Clemens’ social-media replies toward Trump’s support add a contemporary twist, highlighting how public sentiment, media narratives, and legal angles intersect with Hall of Fame politics and fantasy-sports readers’ long-term projections.

Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox finalized a 13.3M, one-year pact for 2026 with a vesting option for 2027 that could push total front-loaded guarantees to 26M if Chapman racks up 40 innings in 2026. The club prevailed 5-2 over the Pirates as Chapman notched another save, lifting his 16th-year tally to a career-best 1.02 ERA. With 76 strikeouts in 53 innings and a club-record 15-game hitless streak, Chapman remains a dominant late-inning force and targets a 400th career save.

Boston’s move signals confidence in Chapman as the closer backbone while tying 2027 to on-field volume. His career arc spans Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Royals, Rangers, Pirates, and now Boston, underscoring his durability and high-leverage upside. Fantasy managers should weigh innings projection and bullpen usage as the Sox balance veteran talent with rising arms in a playoff chase.

Wheeler's season is over, so Philadelphia signed Walker Buehler to a minor-league deal, keeping him postseason-eligible and available for a September call-up. Buehler brings big-game pedigree and versatile usage, potentially fitting into bullpen, long relief, or even a starter role as Philly pursues a World Series run.

The Phillies already field a rotation of Sánchez, Luzardo, Suárez, Nola, Walker and Rangel, and Buehler’s addition adds depth and upside for late-season and playoff scenarios. The team will weigh innings, rehab timelines, and matchup-driven roles as they navigate September rosters.