As spring training rapidly approaches, it seems that the Matt Chapman sweepstakes has dwindled down to two teams.
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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs are considered to be the two teams most likely to sign Chapman this offseason.
"The Giants are in touch on Matt Chapman," Heyman writes, "and though manager Bob Melvin would love him, it isn't known how close things are.
"The Cubs are also a possibility for Chapman ... ."
So although we had been hearing that the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays — with whom Chapman hit .240 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs for across 581 plate appearances in 2023 — were also in the market for Chapman this offseason, it seems that both of those AL East clubs are now content with how their respective infields are looking for 2024.
We have known for some time that the Giants are interested in signing the four-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2019 Platinum Glove Award winner — if only because they hired Bob Melvin to be their manager earlier this offseason, and Melvin managed Chapman throughout the five years he played for the Oakland Athletics.
So with the Giants having brought Melvin back to the Bay Area, they now seem eager to do the same for his former third baseman.
While Heyman also noted the Cubs being in on the Chapman sweepstakes, it appears that they'd like to wait and see where Cody Bellinger decides to sign. Chicago would surely prefer to keep their Silver Slugger Award-winning center fielder, if they only have enough money to sign one of the two.
Heyman also noted that, along with Chapman, San Francisco is also interested in signing Jorge Soler. While the former Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins outfielder has been making news this offseason due to a 2021 World Series incident in which he hit a fan in the face with a ball, the Giants don't appear concerned with that bad press.
What's for certain is that most of these free agents will likely want to sign before all players report to their respective spring trainings over the next week. Therefore, the next few days should be exciting for baseball fans.
