According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the San Francisco Giants are “in talks” with free agency third baseman Matt Chapman.
During his weekly Bleacher Report Hot Stove live stream on Tuesday, Heyman discussed Chapman. Here are his thoughts on the third baseman and whether the Giants could be a good fit for him.
It makes the most sense that the Giants and Chapman have been in talks. Are they defending themselves, competing with themselves? I’m not certain. They obviously have the funds; they are a big-market team with enormous income that will only grow in the wake of the A’s apparent abandonment of the Bay Area. They want to be in Las Vegas, but I don’t know where they’re playing or what’s going on with them. Thus, the Giants are wealthy, and they did add outfielder Jung-Ho Lee for a great $113 million contract.
While I don’t think they should be competing with the Dodgers, they ought to start doing something. Right now, the Giants are in talks with Chapman, but things might change. I think Chapman would be a good fit for both the Cubs and Seattle. Given that he is among the finest third basemen in baseball when it comes to fielding, he likely has other options. and among the top third basemen overall.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today also suggested that the Giants might be Chapman’s destination over the weekend, following the team’s $9.25 million salary cap reduction via the trade of pitcher Ross Stripling to the Oakland Athletics.
While MLB Trade Rumours had earlier in the offseason expected that Chapman will get a six-year, $150 million contract, Spotrac now predicting him to sign a six-year, $103 million contract.
Over the past few seasons, Chapman, who turns 31 in April, has established himself as one of baseball’s best defensive and power-hitting third basemen. Though his 17 home runs and 54 RBI with the Toronto Blue Jays were his lowest in a complete season since his first year with the Athletics in 2017, he did lose some power at the plate in 2023.
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