MLB insider says the SF Giants are the best fit for Matt Chapman

Feb 27, 2024, 8:41 AM

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 03: Matt Chapman #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a single agains...

(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

With Spring Training games underway, super agent Scott Boras is still looking to find homes for his big-name free agents.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, World Series champion pitcher Jordan Montgomery, and Golde Glove third baseman Matt Chapman remain on the market as we move within one month of Opening Day.

Following the news of fellow Boras client Cody Bellinger’s three-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, all eyes are shifting to the other players who continue to search for a team to play for in 2024 and beyond.

Chapman has been linked to the San Francisco Giants since November, and while the Giants have already had a busy offseason on the market, they could have one more move up their sleeve before putting their pencils down on the offseason.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Giants remain the best fit for Chapman, who spent several years playing under new manager Bob Melvin while both were working across the Bay for the Oakland Athletics from 2017-2021.

“I still do not see a better fit out there than the San Francisco Giants.”

– @jonmorosi on free agent Matt Chapman pic.twitter.com/dLQlYHWBaz

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 27, 2024

“I still do not see a better fit out there than the San Francisco Giants,” Morosi said of Chapman’s free agency on Tuesday morning during MLB Network’s Hot Stove broadcast.

“We know the Giants have been aggressive in signing players throughout the offseason… For the Giants, who tried on [Shohei] Ohtani, they tried on [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, Chapman would fit in nicely with the overall schematic of their offseason.”

More on free agent 3B Matt Chapman

This isn’t the first time Chapman has been linked to San Francisco.

According to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Chapman was seen chatting with Melvin during the GM meetings in Arizona during the opening week of free agency back in November.

Free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman attended the GM Meetings today. He spent several minutes chatting with Giants manager Bob Melvin. 👀

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) November 8, 2023

Chapman spent five years playing under Melvin in Oakland before the A’s traded the two-time Platinum Glove Award winner to Toronto before the 2022 season.

Chapman, who just won his fourth Gold Glove Award after another impressive season at the hot corner, has hit 24+ home runs in four of his seven MLB seasons.

A low batting average (.240 career average) and a high strikeout rate (28.4% in 2023) could cause teams to balk at committing to Chapman long-term, but there is no better fielding third baseman currently in baseball today.

According to MLB Trade Rumors’ contract predictions for this free agent class, Chapman, 30, is in line to receive a new deal in the neighborhood of $150 million over six years–though it’s possible that the slick-fielding infielder could sign a short term deal with opt-outs.

Fellow Scott Boras client Cody Bellinger just signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Cubs that includes opt-outs after each of the contract’s first two years.

Could Chapman ink a similar deal with the Giants? It’s possible, but we’ll see how Boras plays his hand on his next big free agent.