MLB.com
Matt Chapman is now a free agent. MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding the third baseman.
Jan. 30: Does Blue Jays' deal with Turner close door on Chapman reunion?
The Blue Jays have reached a deal with free-agent infielder Justin Turner, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi.
Morosi reported Monday that Toronto was showing "sincere interest" in Turner and J.D. Martinez in its search for an impact bat to fill the voids left by Chapman and fellow free agent Brandon Belt.
Morosi expects Turner to be Toronto's primary DH, so it's unlikely the Blue Jays will continue to pursue Martinez.
What's more unclear is what the addition of Turner means for Toronto's chances of a reunion with Chapman. With Turner joining Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Davis Schneider on the Blue Jays' roster, they now have several players they can rotate at the hot corner, albeit none that can make a two-way impact like Chapman.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Jan. 25 that six teams have shown interest in Chapman, with the Giants, Cubs and Yankees joining the Blue Jays and two other unnamed clubs in the mix for the third baseman.
Jan. 8: Are Giants the best fit for Chapman?
Any team interested in Chapman must weigh the positives and negatives in his profile. He is a dependable power hitter who has played in at least 140 games in each of the past five full seasons. In 2023, he ranked in the 98th percentile or higher in barrel rate and hard-hit rate. And defensively, the two-time Platinum Glove winner remains very strong at the hot corner.
Conversely, Chapman's 17 homers last season were his fewest in a full season, and a right middle finger injury impacted his results at the plate, which included a .659 OPS after April 30. His strikeout rate has been north of 27% in each of the past four years. After declining the qualifying offer from the Blue Jays, Chapman will cost his new team at least one Draft pick and money from its international bonus pool in addition to a likely nine-figure contract.
Considering all of that, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) wrote Monday about why the Giants could make sense as a landing spot for Chapman as he enters his age-31 season.
Chapman's bat would instantly upgrade a lineup that ranked 27th in slugging percentage last season, while his glove would give the Giants stability on the left side of the infield. That could be especially valuable if San Francisco installs 22-year-old No. 2 prospect Marco Luciano, as its everyday shortstop.
Rosenthal also mentions that among the teams that need a player like Chapman, perhaps none of them know him as well as the Giants. Their new skipper, Bob Melvin, managed Chapman for the first five seasons of his career with the A's, from 2017-21. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was also with Oakland for Chapman’s first two seasons.
Dec. 27: Giants ‘big-game hunting,' in on Chapman, Snell, Bellinger
After missing out on both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom landed with the rival Dodgers, the Giants are still “big-game hunting” on the free-agent market as they look to add more star power to their roster, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Per Heyman, the Giants are in on many of the top free agents left on the board, including Chapman, starter Blake Snell and outfielder Cody Bellinger.
While San Francisco’s biggest addition to this point has been center fielder Jung Hoo Lee out of Korea, Heyman gets the sense the team is still leaning toward upgrading on the offensive side of the ball and considers Chapman the most likely of the three to land with the Giants.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser also linked the Giants to those three players in an appearance on MLB Network on Tuesday.
Chapman, of course, has familiarity with the Bay Area as well as new Giants manager Bob Melvin. The third baseman played under Melvin during his time with the A's before being traded to the Blue Jays.
Speaking of the Jays, they also can't be ruled out in the market for Chapman, though their addition of utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who won a Gold Glove Award at third base with the Rangers in 2020, on Wednesday may alter their priorities.
Heyman also mentioned the Cubs as a potential fit for Chapman, though Chicago may be prioritizing a reunion with Bellinger over any other free agent.
Matt Chapman Free Agency News and Rumors – MLB.com
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