[That’s mlbtraderumors.com contract estimate for him from back in November](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/2023-24-top-50-free-agents-with-predictions.html). At $25M a year, that would still keep the Giants under the luxury tax (I think). He’s an elite defender at third (4 Gold Gloves including last year), and is in the 98th percentile of MLB hitters in average exit velocity and barrel rate, per Statcast.
In my view, you sign him for that number, and eat the last few years of the contract due to his age.
26 comments
Don’t really see the point personally. His bat was about as good as JD’s last year and while yes the defensive upgrade is big, I don’t want to commit that much money to another streaky mid hitter. We need proven superstars a la Soto or young talent, Chapman is neither.
No!!
Ewww yuck!
Normally deals that long don’t happen this late into the FA period. I’d expect 3 years absolute max.
25M a year for 6 years is a stretch. Someone over at The Athletic predicted he would get 95M over 5 years, which would be worth it at that price point, but for 150M? Nah hard pass. Casey Schmitt could be Matt Chapman instead for much, much cheaper
Do it.. 4x gold glove 2x plat, big name, familiar with bob, we’ll have a consistent clubhouse face for a while rather than just turnstile rotation of guys. Move JD to first trade wade and Bart for something
3 years 68 million final offer
I don’t think the Giants would likely get much production on the back end of the contract. I’m not concerned with the price per year though.
Nope. Makes the team older and has almost zero upside potential. That’s an overpay that doesn’t fit future growth and development of younger more athletic players. I could see a 3 at 80 scenario with a club option/buyout 4th—maybe a player option after 2. But that would be contingent on trading JD.
I do it for the defensive upgrade and the ability to trade JD after for something else we need. Like another starter or back up middle infielder
I’m in for a 5yr/100m deal. Would have to trade Davis tho. Would create a logjam of 3rd baseman on the team. Love his exit velo & glove. Former Melvin guy as well.
Nahhhh
I’d actually love a Farhan special with two years and an opt out in this case. But he’s not going to agree to that. So… pass. We’ll get Kim next off season.
I think what people miss is just how good the defense is, a glove like that a third can end a lot of innings quicker than if it was JD. Plus the bat is better, he has more consistent power, and last year he was on a tear until breaking his finger and playing through it.
Matt Chapman would be a worth it signing for the org.
Love, love, love that move
No thanks. I want his glove but not for 6 years.
That depends … if my goal is to stay under the luxury tax and be a 500 team (despite Giants having a top 6 financial valuation), then I’d say “don’t sign him.”
If my goal is to pay to be a better team … even knowing in the next couple years a pennant is unlikely … but knowing that to ultimately win, the Giants need to establish a winning culture and reputation … then I’d sign him, as he is a clear upgrade and would fit well.
For me personally, given that the Giants are one of the top markets and top valued teams, I want them to spend money to try to be better, vs. being a cash cow. I personally don’t care about making our owner a few more million per year that he doesn’t even need: he already has plenty of money to keep donating to MAGA politicians (as he does) without worrying about spending a little more on his baseball team.
I feel like the hang up is probably 4 year vs 5 year contract at around 20 mil/yr but maybe I’m just hopeful.
Remember Evan Longoria? This is Evan Longoria II.
It’s not my money – as a fan, let’s just pick anybody who can help now 🙂
Yeah, I’d dig that.
So there’s a few things here. On the field, we can see the improvement on defense. And at the plate they’re going from a 103+ OPS to a 108+ OPS.
On the age factor, Davis is actually one day older than Chapman. Just a weird coincidence there.
But here’s the one MAJOR factor that the Giants need someone like Chapman for the next couple years: They don’t have a “Team Leader” type for the clubhouse. Yaz, Wade, Flores, Thairo and Slater are great teammates, but not able to do things like, say, shut down a game of Pusoy. JHL, Luciano and Bailey are all rookies or near-rookies (with a HUGE asterisk on JHL, if his bat is legit, he will 100% be the team leader in 2026, if not 2025. Seeing dugout moments from him in the KBO, he’s the man).
Conforto and Soler both role that vibe of “here to work,” which again is fine. It won’t hurt the vibe, but it won’t help it.
This is something the Giants have missed since 2021. The attempt to have it was there with Longo. Honestly, it’s the main reason why I felt they needed Marcus Semien. This is the main part of Posey’s game that the Giants are missing.
Chapman has that vibe. Willy Adames has it, too. And I’m somewhat curious if Panda might be able to do this.
Do it!
4/88 with incentives: all-star, gold glove, games per year. Make it like 3 mil extra per year (1 per incentive) available to him
Or wait til next year for infield pickups, snag HSK for the big contract (JD is in a contract year, so he’s prob eager to ball out this year, anyways)
fuck no
The thing about Chapman that makes him worth a 3-5 year contract is the defense. Dude is a legit stud at 3B. Add in a solid bat with Soler and it makes sense to sign this guy.
He’s a solid defender and still has decent power but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and his BA is subpar as often as not.
I’d target his base salary at something closer to half of this and then he can get up to something closer to $150 through health and performance incentives