Report: Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman Gets World Baseball Classic Offer After Rejecting Cuba

Aroldis Chapman has an interesting decision to make.

The flame-throwing Red Sox closer told the Cuban media outlet Swing Completo he has been contacted by Great Britain to play in next year’s World Baseball Classic.

“I did not give them 100% certainty about whether I will play,” Chapman said, according to the outlet. “Remember that I will be a free agent next season and I don’t know what will happen. But I told them that I am available to be on the roster and that before giving a definite yes about playing, I need to wait for my next season in free agency to unfold.”

In the report, Chapman also said he was “informally” contacted by Team USA.

In March, the Havana Times reported Chapman won’t play in the World Baseball Classic for Cuba. The 37-year-old southpaw defected from Communist island nation in 2009.

Chapman signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox in December. In 32 appearances, he has a stellar 1.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. Chapman is tied for 10th in the American League with 12 saves.

The left-hander is third among active pitchers and tied for 14th all-time with 347 career saves.

The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to return in March 2026. Four cities will host games: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tokyo, Japan; Houston, Texas; Miami, Fla. The championship game will be played March 17 at loanDepot Park.

In the most recent World Baseball Classic, Japan took home the title in 2023, beating the United States, 3-2, in the final.