MLB insider speculates that the SF Giants could add another top free agent

The SF Giants have reportedly signed Matt Chapman to a three-year deal. Plus, they remain "in the hunt" for Blake Snell according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. However, could they end up getting both? Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated that signing both Chapman and Snell is not out of the realm of possibility.

MLB insider speculates that the SF Giants could add another top free agent

Prior to the signing, Heyman was relatively confident that the Giants would end up with Chapman. Interestingly, he ups the ante by saying, "They are still talking to these guys... I kinda think the Giants are going to sign somebody. Whether it is Snell, or Chapman, or both of them."

The Giants have had an active offseason, adding Jung Hoo Lee, Tom Murphy, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks, and Jorge Soler along with Chapman. After winning just 79 games in 2023, it feels like they still need to make another move to push themselves into the playoff conversation.

Perhaps, it might be a bit too optimistic to be talking about the playoffs in the first place. The Giants are beginning the year with limited pitching depth and some of that depth is already being chipped away due to injuries.

The addition to Snell would help fortify the top of a rotation that features one of the better pitchers in baseball in Logan Webb. In fact, Snell is the only pitcher to finish ahead of Webb in the NL Cy Young voting last season. The left-handed hurler tallied a 2.25 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, and a 2.36 SO/W ratio in 32 starts. Interestingly, he led baseball with 99 walks as well.

There is no doubt that Snell would upgrade the Giants' rotation. And, if he is willing to take a shorter-term deal with a high average annual value, San Francisco could be a suitor as they have done that with regularity in recent seasons.

On the other hand, Chapman goes a long way in improving the team's defense. He earned his fourth AL Gold Glove in 2023 after recording +12 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +4 Outs Above Average (OAA) at the hot corner.

The seven-year veteran brings a solid bat to the table as well. He registered a .240/.330/.424 line (110 wRC+) with 17 home runs, 54 RBI, and 66 runs in 581 plate appearances. While he has not flashed the type of bat he did earlier in his career, Chapman still projects as a solid contributor on offense. There is no doubt that Chapman makes the roster better in 2024.

Adding Snell and Chapman would be expensive additions, especially late in the season. However, they checked one of those boxes off on Friday night. Could they add another?