So did Red Sox really almost trade Aroldis Chapman, or what?

The trade deadline situation has obviously changed for the Boston Red Sox. Whereas they once seemed like sure sellers, the Red Sox now appear likely to be buyers or at worst stand pat at the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. Even after Wednesday's loss the Baltimore Orioles snapped Boston's 15-game win streak, the Red Sox entered Thursday comfortably in the thick of the AL Wild Card hunt. Exactly how close the Red Sox came to tearing it all down before that streak has become a matter of debate. Veteran reporter George Ofman dropped a minor bombshell on Wednesday when he posted on X that the Red Sox were very close to trading away closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago White Sox right before their streak began on July 3. Such a move would have reinforced the belief that the White Sox, who have surprised many by vaulting to the top of the AL Central, were going for it all. Subsequent reports threw cold water on that deal, though. "Had someone shoot down that Aroldis Chapman-White Sox thing at warp speed," MassLive beat reporter Chris Cotillo posted on X. "Carry on." This is typical trade deadline maneuvering, and it's likely that both Ofman and Cotillo's reporting is accurate. Somebody told Ofman a deal was almost made; somebody else told Cotillo it wasn't. The Red Sox certainly don't want to send the message to a clubhouse riding high on good vibes that they were close to shipping out one of the team's most important players. Now that the Red Sox are back in postseason contention, their fate could be interestingly intertwined with the White Sox the rest of the way. If the White Sox falter and are passed in the division standings by either the Cleveland Guardians or Minnesota Twins, they could be in direct competition with Boston for a wild card berth. The teams have a three-game series coming up in the first week of August. Chapman would have strengthened the back end of Chicago's bullpen, where Seranthony Dominguez has been inconsistent but Sean Newcomb and Grant Taylor have been be lights-out. A team in the hunt can never have enough relief arms, so the Red Sox are surely glad they didn't ditch one of the most dominant ones in baseball now that they're relevant again. More MLB: With Bobby Witt Injury, Royals Sell-Off Can Now Commence