Third baseman Matt Chapman's market in free agency hasn't exactly been robust. but the fit between him and the San Francisco Giants seems to be quite strong according to recent rumors.
In a Jan. 20 report on MLB.com, Mark Feinsand notes that while the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays could be a match for Chapman, the Giants are viewed by "many" as the best fit for the third baseman's services. If the four-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2019 Platinum Glove Award winner does sign with San Francisco, there would be a level of familiarity for him.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was a part of the Oakland Athletics' front office when they drafted Chapman in 2014. San Francisco also hired Bob Melvin to be its new manager for 2024 and beyond. Melvin was Oakland's manager for the duration of Chapman's big-league tenure with Athletics (2017-21).
The third baseman is set to turn 31 years old in April, and the expectation at the start of free agency was that the Scott Boras client would land a big-money deal. Back in November, MLB Trade Rumors predicted a six-year, $150 million guarantee for Chapman.
His offense has been inconsistent since posting consecutive top 10 American League MVP Award finishes in 2018 and 2019. This past season in Toronto, Chapman hit .240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs, 39 doubles, 54 RBIs and 66 runs scored in 581 plate appearances. In addition to his stellar defensive reputation, one of his greatest qualities is getting penciled into the lineup every day.
Outside of Chapman's debut season in 2017 (84 games) and the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign (37), Chapman hasn't played in fewer than 140 games per season. He's reached that benchmark five times during his career, including each of the past three years. That's the kind of consistency any team would love to have.
While it seems that the Giants are the best fit, no rumors are suggesting several teams are seriously bidding right now. So, they could be slow-playing their negotiations in hopes that his price tag eventually comes down.
