Texas Rangers Manager on Using Aroldis Chapman as Closer

The Texas Rangers traded for Kansas City Royals set-up man Aroldis Chapman, who has more than 300 career saves.

© Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy gave the trade for Kansas City Royals reliever Aroldis Chapman his seal of approval after learning of the deal on Friday.

The Rangers acquired Chapman before the 5-3 loss to the Houston Astros for pitcher Cole Ragans and minor-league outfielder Roni Cabrera.

The question for Bochy is whether the Rangers intend for Chapman to supplant Will Smith as the the closer?

“I’m going to use him similar to how Kansas City used him,’ Bochy said. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet, but we’ll pick our spots. He could help our Smitty there, depending on the usage of the bullpen.

“He’s shown his versatility there with Kansas City. He’s pitched everywhere from the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth. He pitched the 10th two days ago. He gives us some options there, which is a good thing.”

The Rangers expect Chapman to arrive in Arlington on Saturday and be available for the second game against the Astros, which starts at 3:05 p.m.

“He has a lot of experience, he has great stuff,” Bochy said. “He’s been through a lot, a lot of big games, the postseason, things like that. He’s still throwing the ball very well. We saw him earlier this season and he hasn’t changed very much.”

Chapman, 35, comes to the Rangers with a 4-2 record and two saves in 31 games with Kansas City. He has a 2.45 ERA and has allowed eight earned runs in 29 1/3 innings.

He gives the Rangers something they really need, and that’s strikeouts. He has struck out 53 of 122 batters he’s faced this season, and that 43.4 percent rate is one of the highest in the Majors. His 53 strikeouts are fourth in the American League and he’s holding batters to a .158 average.

The Rangers entered the Houston series with the second-fewest strikeouts of any bullpen at 247. One notable exception is Josh Sborz, who had 45 strikeouts and the third-highest swing-and-miss rate in the AL at 42.8 percent. Chapman is just ahead of him at 43.5 percent.

While the Rangers may not use Chapman as a closer, the lefty has 317 career saves and the sixth-highest save percentage in history. At the least, Chapman would seem to fall into a set-up tandem with the right-handed Sborz, giving the Rangers options to hand Smith a lead.

“He’s going to help this bullpen out,” Bochy said of Chapman. “He’s going to give us another weapon down there.”

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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