Matt Chapman's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings
Player profile
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HT/WT6' 0'' , 215 lbs
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Birthdate04/28/1993 (31)
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CollegeCal State Fullerton
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Draft InfoUndrafted
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StatusInactive
The San Francisco Giants remain in play to sign free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman. Now that outfielder Cody Bellinger has re-signed with the Chicago Cubs, more attention has turned to Chapman as the best available position player on the open market during spring training. MLB Network's Jon Morosi doesn't think there's a better fit out there than the Giants for Chapman. The Giants could use some more pop in their lineup, and Chapman has played under manager Bob Melvin before in Oakland. The 30-year-old is an elite defender at third base and .234/.327/.429 with 44 homers and 130 RBI in his two years in Toronto. Chapman hasn't been a health risk, but his 30% strikeout rate is concerning, and a move to a pitcher-friendly park in San Francisco wouldn't be great from a player that regressed at the plate as the season went on in 2023.
The Seattle Mariners have already made several moves this offseason but "have discussed the possibility of adding" free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman, per the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. The 30-year-old had an excellent start to the 2023 season but finished with a .240/.330/.424 slash line and 17 home runs, 66 runs scored, and 54 RBI in 581 plate appearances with the Blue Jays. Even with the down season, Chapman would be both an offensive and defensive upgrade to the team's current options, which include Luis Urias and Josh Rojas. While T-Mobile Park is not great for hitters, it would be a decent landing spot for Chapman from a fantasy perspective given the lineup the team has constructed this offseason.
The New York Yankees are reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in signing free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman. The veteran remains one of the top free agents left on the market and perhaps the best infielder available. The 30-year-old tailed off after a blistering start at the plate in 2023 but still hit 17 home runs and 39 doubles, alongside a 10.7% BB% across 581 plate appearances, production that graded out 10% superior to the league average, as per his 110 wRC+. Of course, he remains an excellent defensive third baseman and boasts significant extra-base power with a career-high of 36 home runs set in the 2019 season. A lucrative multi-year deal is a lock for a player still in his prime.
If left-handed-hitting outfielder Cody Bellinger signs elsewhere in free agency this offseason, the Chicago Cubs could turn to right-handed-hitting third baseman Matt Chapman while seeking another left-handed bat some other way. Ultimately, the Cubs may want to give the majority of their designated hitter at-bats to Christopher Morel, as they did in 2023. The 30-year-old Chapman took a slight step backward offensively in his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 and managed a modest 17 home runs despite finishing second in hard-hit rate with a barrel rate in the 98th percentile. His swing-and-miss issues are also concerning, but Chapman's deficiencies at the plate are offset by his excellent defense at third base.
Of the teams that could use free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman, the San Francisco Giants know him as well as anyone. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was with the Oakland Athletics for Chapman's first two seasons, and new manager Bob Melvin was for all five of Chapman's seasons in Oakland. Third base coach Matt Williams, who was with the A's in 2019 and '19, is an admirer of Chapman's. The 30-year-old would help the Giants' shortage of power while also providing an everyday anchor and stability on the left side of the infield. However, he's also just a year younger than Evan Longoria when he arrived in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays in December of 2017. Longo had an OPS+ just three percent above league average in his five seasons in San Fran. Chapman is a four-time Gold Glover but hit just .205 with a .659 OPS after April 30, although his hard-hit and exit-velocity numbers for 2023 were among the best in MLB, suggesting a bounce-back season could be coming.