Free Agent Matt Chapman Linked To Big-Market NL Team

Matt Chapman enters free agency still carrying the reputation as one of the top third basemen in baseball. Yes, his offense slumped in 2023, but he still owns the power skillset, and could erupt for another 27-HR+ season (a mark he's reached three times in his career). 

Chapman also knows what it's like playing in The Bay Area, having served as a Gold Glover three times in his five seasons with the Oakland A's. But how good would he look on the other side of the Bay Bridge, in San Francisco with the Giants? 

Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic says that we "shouldn't rule out" a Giants-Chapman pursuit this offseason. He notes that there are a lot of links to this Giants team that could interest the third baseman, including finding his old A's manager Bob Melvin there. 

He’s a prominent free-agent hitter who actually might be motivated to sign with them. In addition to (new Giants manager) Melvin, Chapman would be reunited with one of his mentors, base coach and former Giants All-Star third baseman Matt Williams, who is expected to join the Giants coaching staff along with associate manager/bench coach Ryan Christenson, who managed Chapman in the minor leagues before joining the A’s major-league staff.

The Giants do have JD Davis as the incumbent at third, but his track record is one of missing huge chunks of games each season, and president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi has said that he's looking to "make sure we have a group of players that can be strong for all six months of the season.” Davis did manage a career-high 144 games in 2023, but that's his career best, and he's only topped 115 games one other time in his seven years. 

The Chapman-Giants connection will certainly be one to watch this free agent season.

Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports