Matt Chapman Turned Down $120M Offer Months Ago

Another signing, another unsatisfied Scott Boras client, it would be fair to say. And another angry fanbase.

Matt Chapman, who signed late last night with the San Francisco Giants for a $54 million guarantee, is reported to have gotten a nine-figure offer back before free agency from his incumbent team, the Toronto Blue Jays, but he and Boras turned it down. That number, upon further investigation by Scott Mitchell of TSN, was a 6-year, $120 million offer. 

But why the Blue Jays didn't circle back and try to top the Giants' offer now, given that original offer, is perplexing to many, including Mitchell.

This is the type of deal I expected them to match, especially because Chapman is going to opt out in eight months. It’s a head scratcher they’d offer 6/$120M within the past year, then not circle back on this.

The Jays, with unpopular GM Ross Atkins, went another direction after Chapman turned down their pre-free agency offer, and signed utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa and 39-year-old DH Justin Turner as possible third base options (though neither can be counted on to play it regularly). Toronto, in fact, goes into the 2024 season without a regular 2B or 3B.  

As for Chapman, that's nearly $70M down the tubes, after coming off his 4th Gold Glove season at third base. Notably, however, his offense fell off a cliff after the first month of the season, and he wound up with his lowest home run total (17) and RBIs (54) in a full season since his rookie year in 2017. Despite that, his hot start did allow him to finish the year with a 108 OPS+. 

After Boras led another of his clients, Cody Bellinger, down a four-month staring contest with the Chicago Cubs, with their original purported $200 million demands, they eventually settled recently for a 3-year, $80M deal. 

Both players can opt-out after the season and try their hand at free agency again if they have a good 2024. What path they will choose to take in negotiations next winter, remains to be seen.

Photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports