Pirates' Aroldis Chapman passes Billy Wagner's record for most career strikeouts by lefty reliever

ATLANTA (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates veteran Aroldis Chapman earned a place in Major League Baseball history on Saturday by passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever.

Chapman, 36, struck out Travis d'Arnaud and pinch-hitter Sean Murphy in the ninth inning of the Pirates' 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings.

Chapman tied Wagner's record of 1,196 strikeouts by retiring d'Arnaud and then claimed the record by striking out Murphy. Chapman stared down Murphy as he walked away from the plate.

“For sure, I went out there knowing I was two strikeouts away from either tying the record or go ahead,” Chapman said through a translator. “Yes, I was trying to get that today.”

Chapman said the record is the result of “a lot of hard work through the years.”

Chapman walked Austin Riley with one out before recovering with the back-to-back strikeouts to protect a 1-1 tie. The Braves won the game in the 10th against Kyle Nicholas.

Entering the game, Chapman was tied for sixth among all NL relievers with 47 strikeouts this season. His two saves this season have lifted his career total to 323, one behind Huston Street for 20th all-time since saves became an official statistic in 1969.

Wagner finished his career by saving 37 games for Atlanta in 2010. He made his major league debut with Houston in 1995 and ranks eighth all-time with 422 career saves. Mariano Rivera is first with 652.

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Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy (12) strikes out against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) in the nineth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal (6) leaves the mound after speaking with Aroldis Chapman (45) in the nineth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) reacts to striking out Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy in the nineth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. Chapman struck out Braves' Sean Murphy, passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever with 1.197. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) walks in the dugout after to striking out Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy in the nineth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. Chapman struck out Braves' Sean Murphy, passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever with 1.197. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) celebrates in the dugout after to striking out Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy in the nineth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. Chapman struck out Braves' Sean Murphy, passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever with 1.197. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) celebrates in the dugout after to striking out Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy in the nineth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Atlanta. Chapman struck out Braves' Sean Murphy, passing Billy Wagner for the most career strikeouts by a left-handed reliever with 1.197. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The Nashville Predators made a huge splash when NHL free agency opened Monday by signing Stanley Cup champion forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as part of a jaw-dropping series of moves topping $100 million that made Smashville the center of attention across hockey.

Stamkos left Tampa Bay after 16 seasons, two Cup titles and two additional trips to the final to sign a four, year $32 million contract with Nashville.

“By no means did I ever envision that a day like today would happen, but it did,” Stamkos said. "It was definitely a bitter pill to swallow when it really started to materialize that it wasn’t going to work in Tampa.”

Stamkos turned to the Predators, made his decision and got a call from Marchessault asking if he was signing with them too, worried it was one or the other. “He said, ‘No Stammer, I’m coming, too,’” Stamkos recalled.

Marchessault got $27.5 million for the next five seasons less than 13 months since earning playoff MVP honors in leading Vegas to its first championship. The two will have company: Defenseman Brady Skjei signed with Nashville for seven years and $49 million, and Scott Wedgewood came in at $3 million for two years to back up franchise goaltender Juuse Saros.

General manager Barry Trotz called it “a massive day for the future of our organization.” The Predators at $111.5 million became the first team to surpass $100 million committed to new players in free agency since the Florida Panthers five years ago started building toward the championship they won last week.

“It’s huge because it’s a statement, I think, for the rest of the league that these players will come to Nashville,” Trotz said. “These players see what we’re doing with our franchise. We have lots to offer, and we’re very determined to win. We’re committed to that.”

Marchessault was an original member of the expansion Golden Knights in 2017 and helped them reach the final twice and win the Stanley Cup last year. He is coming off scoring a career-high 42 goals and, like Stamkos, was one of his team's most recognizable faces.

Within the first three hours of free agency, teams had committed over $900 million in contracts, a result of the salary cap jumping to $88 million — the first big increase since before the pandemic.

“A lot of cash," Toronto GM Brad Treliving said. “There were some really good players available. You saw teams be aggressive, and lots of players changed teams.”

Jake Guentzel signed a $63 million, seven-year contract with Tampa Bay after they acquired his rights from Carolina over the weekend, opting to pay him big money at age 30 rather than Stamkos at 34.

“Things just didn’t work out in Carolina, and then I heard Tampa might be trading for my rights, so obviously I got really excited because everyone hears how good of a team and good of a spot this is,” said Guentzel, who will count $9 million against the cap through 2031. “The pedigree behind Tampa Bay, the winning culture — just a lot of high-end players that really make it intriguing to come to Tampa.”

— Fresh off helping Florida win the Stanley Cup, defenseman Brandon Montour signed a $50 million, seven-year contract with Seattle, and the Kraken added former Golden Knights center and ‘23 champion Chandler Stephenson for $43.75 million over the same length of time. The Panthers’ exodus included Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz to Toronto, Ryan Lomberg to Calgary and Kevin Stenlund to Utah.

— Vancouver signed former Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk for $38.5 million over seven years.

— Boston signed center Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract worth $54.25 million and gave defenseman Nikita Zadorov $30 million for the next six seasons.

-- New Jersey continued to build a playoff-worthy roster, signing a pair of defensemen, Brett Pesce for six-years and $33 million and Brenden Dillon for three years and $12 million, and forward Stefan Noesen for three years and $8.25 million.

— San Jose signed forwards Tyler Toffoli for $24 million over four years and Alexander Wennberg for two years and $10 million.

— Toronto signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a six-year contract worth $27 million after acquiring his rights from Dallas.

— The Stars kept Matt Duchene for another season for $3 million and also signed defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba, the latter for $7.5 million over two years.

— Los Angeles signed former Oilers winger Warren Foegele for $10.5 million over three years and gave rugged defenseman Joel Edmundson four years and $15.4 million.

— Columbus signed center Sean Monahan to a five-year contract for $27.5 million.

— Hours after a rainy rally celebrating their Stanley Cup title, the Panthers beat the midnight buzzer to re-sign Sam Reinhart to an eight-year contract worth $69 million, an annual cap hit of $8.625 million for a player coming off a 57-goal regular season.

— Jordan Martinook re-signed with the Hurricanes on a three-year deal worth $9.15 million.

— Edmonton, which lost to the Panthers in seven games in the Cup final, re-signed depth forwards Corey Perry and Connor Brown for next season. Perry, the only player in NHL history to reach the final with five different organizations, got $1.4 million including incentives, while Brown, who had a goal and an assist in the seven-game series against Florida, signed for $1 million. The Oilers replaced Foegele with Viktor Arvidsson, giving him $8 million over two years.

Chicago and Washington were among the busiest teams.

The Blackhawks signed forwards Tyler Bertuzzi (four years, $22 million), Teuvo Teravainen (three years, $16.2 million), Craig Smith (one year, $1 million), defenseman Alex Martinez (one year, $4 million) and goaltender Laurent Brossoit (two years, $6.6 million).

The Capitals, beyond trading for Jakob Chychrun, continued their roster overhaul by signing defenseman Matt Roy to a six-year contract worth $34.5 million and forwards Brandon Duhaime (two years, $3.7 million) and Taylor Raddysh (one year, $1 million).

AP freelance writers Jim Diamond and Denis Gorman contributed.

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FILE - Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei (76) skates with the puck during Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in New York. The Nashville Predators made a big splash in the opening minutes of NHL free agency by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

FILE - Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) plays against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. The Nashville Predators made a big splash as NHL free agency opened Monday, July 1, 2024, by signing Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in a jaw-dropping series of moves topping $100 million that made Smashville the center of attention across hockey.(AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos (91) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 6, 2024. The Nashville Predators made a big splash in the opening minutes of NHL free agency by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

FILE - Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) plays during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Nashville Predators made a big splash as NHL free agency opened Monday, July 1, by signing Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in a jaw-dropping series of moves topping $100 million that made Smashville the center of attention across hockey.(AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos reacts after his goal during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. The Nashville Predators made a big splash in the opening minutes of NHL free agency by signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack, File)

FILE - Carolina Hurricanes' Teuvo Teravainen (86) skates with the puck against the New York Islanders during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen have agreed to contracts with Chicago, providing a major offensive lift for the rebuilding Blackhawks on the first day of NHL free agency. Bertuzzi received a $22 million, four-year deal, and Teravainen’s agreement is worth $16.2 million over three seasons. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, FIle)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, left, aims the puck for a goal as Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) attempts to defend during the second period of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

FILE - Vegas Golden Knights' Jonathan Marchessault controls the puck in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, May 1, 2024. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be committed to free agents, including a strong crop of forwards led by longtime Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane and 2023 playoff MVP Marchessault. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos moves the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, March 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. Stamkos is still on course to become a free agent even after the Lightning cleared significant salary cap space with trades made at the NHL draft. General manager Julien BriseBois and agent Don Meehan independently confirmed their stances have not changed with respect to Stamkos signing a new contract with the club before free agency opens Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - Carolina Hurricanes' Jake Guentzel (59) watches the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Raleigh, N.C., April 4, 2024. The Tampa Bay Lightning got a head start on free agency by acquiring the rights to high-scoring winger Guentzel. The Lightning sent a 2025 third-round draft pick to Carolina on Sunday, June 30. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, File)