3 reasons the SF Giants should add third baseman Matt Chapman

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The SF Giants have been connected to Matt Chapman quite a bit this offseason. At times, it has felt almost like an inevitability that he will land in San Francisco. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old third baseman checks off a lot of boxes for the Giants.

3 reasons the SF Giants should add third baseman Matt Chapman

Chapman finished yet another solid season in 2023. With the Toronto Blue Jays, he registered a .240/.330/.424 line (108 OPS+) with 17 home runs, 54 RBI, and 66 runs in 581 plate appearances. This includes a 10.7 percent walk rate, 28.4 percent strikeout rate, and a .185 ISO.

He has swatted at least 20 home runs in three of the last four full seasons with the past year being the exception. On a different note, he would bring a surprising amount of speed on the bases for a Giants team that has usually been on the slower side.

1. Elite Defense

No matter what, Chapman will bring elite defense to the hot corner in San Francisco. Chapman is a four-time Gold Glove winner, two-time Platinum Glove winner, and has provided at least 10 defensive runs saved above average (DRS) at 3B in five of his six full seasons.

Meanwhile, the SF Giants finished 2023 with -15 DRS at 3B. The last SF Giant to win a Gold Glove at 3B is now on the coaching staff, Matt Williams, in 1996. Williams is one of only two players in SF Giants history to win a Gold Glove at 3B (1991, 1993, 1994), the other being Jim Davenport in 1962. Matt Chapman would bring a sorely needed defensive boost to the hot corner and would immediately provide the Giants with something they have rarely seen in their history.

3 reasons the SF Giants should add third baseman Matt Chapman

2. Consistency and Durability

The best ability is availability. Matt Chapman has played in at least 140 games in every full season except his rookie year. During that same time, he hit at least 15 HR, had an OPS+ of at least 100 (100 is avg), and finished with a bWAR of at least 3.5.

Not to mention, Chapman finished both 2018 and 2019 in the top ten of the MVP voting. At 30 years of age, it is tough to rely on him to return to the version we witnessed in Oakland but he is a model of consistency which has been a sparse trait among SF Giants in recent years.

Fangraphs projects Chapman to receive 4 years, $80 million in free agency this off-season. That is $20 million AAV which would make Matt Chapman tied for the 7th highest at 3B with Alex Bregman. That would be an extremely favorable deal for a player who has provided elite consistency and durability over his MLB tenure. That said, it is likely that he will receive a deal well in excess of that projection.

3. Familiarity

Many will discount this aspect but it has a positive effect in many ways. Bob Melvin managed Matt Chapman in Oakland and we know their relationship has been extremely positive.

Bringing someone like Chapman in to bridge the gap between the manager and the current SF Giants would be vital for clubhouse chemistry and would go a long way in getting the manager's message across.

Furthermore, Chapman's familiarity with the Bay Area after having spent five seasons in Oakland means it will take far less time for him to adjust to the area and his surroundings which implies he would be less likely to struggle in that first season which can happen as new arrivals adjust. Finally, the fan recognition of Chapman would be a massive boost as well.

One of the biggest criticisms of this current front office is the lack of a star to root for, buy their jersey, etc. Chapman would be the closest thing to a star that the Giants have had since Buster Posey. The seven-year veteran may not officially be a star, but he has been an excellent contributor throughout his career.

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3 reasons the SF Giants should add third baseman Matt Chapman

3 reasons the SF Giants should add third baseman Matt Chapman

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