Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins slides into third before the tag by Matt Chapman #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays during Game 2 of the Wild Card Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants officially announced that they signed third baseman four-time Gold Glove award winner Matt Chapman on Sunday to a one-year contract.
The Giants stated that Chapman will earn a $16 million salary during the 2024 season and will receive a $2 million signing bonus. His contract will include a $17 million with a player option for 2025 or a $2 million buyout, an $18 million player option for 2026 or a $3 million buyout, and a $20 million mutual option for 2027 or a $1 million buyout.
Chapman elected free agency on Nov. 2, 2023.
Chapman, 30, was born in Victorville, Calif. and has played in seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Oakland Athletics from 2017-21 and the Toronto Blue Jays from 2022-23.
Chapman has won the Gold Glove Award in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023. He also was selected to his only All-Star Game in 2019.
Chapman was selected 25th overall in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft to the Athletics and signed on June 16, 2014 after his junior season at Cal-State Fullerton University.
Last season, Chapman played in 140 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and batted .240 over 581 plate appearances with 122 hits, 39 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, 62 walks, 165 strikeouts, and a .755 OPS. The Blue Jays made the playoffs with a 89-73 record and were swept in two games in the American League Wild Card best-of-three series bythe Minnesota Twins.
Defensively at third base during the 2023 season, Chapman made 137 starts with 1,213.2 innings and 379 chances, 114 putouts, 253 assists, 12 errors, 35 double plays, and a fielding percentage of .968.
In 2022 with Toronto, Chapman hit .229 playing in 155 games with 621 plate appearances recording 123 hits, 27 doubles, one triple, 27 home runs, 76 RBI, 68 walks, 170 strikeouts, and a .757 OPS.
Chapman was traded to the Blue Jays by Oakland for left-handed pitcher Zach Logue, right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hoglund, left-handed pitcher Kirby Snead and shortstop Kevin Smith on March 16, 2022.
During the 2021 season, his last in Oakland, Chapman played in 151 games and batted .210 over 622 plate appearances with 111 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, 27 home runs, 72 RBI, 80 walks, 202 strikeouts, and a .716 OPS.
In his seven seasons in MLB, Chapman has a career average of .240 over 3,588 plate appearances in 868 games with 754 hits, 191 doubles, 19 triples, 155 home runs, 426 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 381 walks, 976 strikeouts, and .790 OPS.
Chapman join a lineup in the Bay Area with two other notable players in their first season with the Giants, including Jorge Soler and five-time Korean Baseball Organization Gold-Glove Award winner Jung-Hoo Lee.
Last season’s starting third baseman, JD Davis, is also returning. Davis played in 144 games hitting .248 with 546 plate appearances recording 119 hits, 23 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs, 69 RBI, 52 walks, 152 strikeouts, and a .738 OPS.
Chapman is expected to take the starting role at the hot corner, and Pablo Sandoval and Wilmer Flores will compete for the backup role during spring training under first year manager Bob Melvin. Giants general manager Pete Putila will have to consult with the front office on how they will evaluate Davis during spring training or if he will be traded before the start of the season.
The Giants will play their first game of the 2024 regular season on the road at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres at 4:10 p.m. EDT on March 28.
