Just one play showed how SF Giants will be fine if Matt Chapman is traded

The SF Giants are reportedly open to trading away third baseman Matt Chapman ahead of the August 3 deadline. While that probably would’ve been unthinkable at the start of the season, that’s where the team finds itself.

A big reason why the Giants would feel comfortable trading Chapman is because of the emergence of Casey Schmitt. He keeps on doing things that have to make the Giants think life without Chapman would be bearable, if not preferable.

Last night’s game against the Colorado Rockies was a great example of that. Schmitt was playing third base since Chapman is on the IL with an abdominal injury. He turned an absolutely filthy double play in the first inning.

While he made that play look incredibly easy, the level of difficulty is truly hard to express. He fielded that ball while it was literally behind him since he was playing in. His momentum carried him to third base for the first out and in the moment I thought he might try to go home since that may have been an easier throw than going to first.

Instead, with all of his momentum going away from first base he has such a strong arm that he was still able to whip the ball over to first base where it was dug out on an impressive play by Bryce Eldridge for a double play.

Broadcaster Dave Flemming was clearly impressed and declared it one of the best plays he’s ever seen. It was incredible and shows that when Schmitt gets an opportunity to play his natural position he can do some pretty special things.

Schmitt is great defensively at third base as well

Obviously, Chapman is no slouch at third base. He has five Gold Gloves and ranks as one of the best defenders at the hot corner this season. But the drop-off from him to Schmitt defensively may not be as pronounced as many would think.

Add in the fact that Schmitt has had a great season offensively, hitting .281/.306/.489 with 16 home runs and 44 runs batted in, and there’s even more reason to think that going forward he will be a more valuable player than Chapman.

The 33-year-old Chapman is hitting .235/.324/.368 on the season with seven homers and 42 runs batted in. Injuries are starting to become a more regular occurrence for him and there’s little reason to think that will change or that his production will have a drastic turnaround in future years. Plus, he’s still owed over $100 million after this season.

Meanwhile, Schmitt is just 27 years old and is not going to hit free agency until 2029. If the Giants can move Chapman, now may be the time because this could be the start of his decline and they already have his replacement lined up.

Schmitt has done so many things well this season and has been willing to play anywhere and he keeps giving the Giants reasons to feel like they will be just fine with him at third base rather than Chapman going forward.

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