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The worst-kept secret at Giants camp over the primary three weeks has been new supervisor Bob Melvin’s want for a reunion with Matt Chapman.
On Friday, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi reportedly acquired Melvin his man.
Chapman and the Giants have agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract, the New York Publish’s Jon Heyman reported late Friday evening. The deal reportedly has opt-outs after the primary two seasons, making it much like the one which Cody Bellinger, one other Scott Boras consumer, not too long ago signed with the Chicago Cubs.
When camp opened final month, Boras had the highest 4 gamers left on the free-agent market. He now has discovered properties for 2 of them, and the Giants stay engaged on a 3rd, per sources. They remained affected person and have stayed within the combine for Chapman and reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner Blake Snell in recent days, with Chapman including one other huge bat to a new-look lineup.
Chapman joins Jung Hoo Lee and Jorge Soler as notable newcomers, and certain will hit both immediately in entrance of or behind Soler, San Francisco’s new cleanup hitter.
Chapman, 30, is coming off a down 12 months total, however he hit 27 homers in every of the 2 earlier seasons. He was an All-Star in 2019 when he hit 36 homers for Melvin’s Oakland Athletics.
Chapman’s .755 OPS final season was the second-lowest of his profession, however he nonetheless was price 4.4 Wins Above Substitute, per Baseball Reference. That determine was practically two wins higher than the highest Giants place participant, and the worth got here principally from his all-world protection at third base.
Chapman has 4 Gold Glove awards within the final six seasons and twice has received the AL Platinum Glove, given to the league’s finest total defender. His presence provides the Giants one of many league’s finest at third and likewise ought to profit one other place. Chapman will make life so much simpler for rookie shortstop Marco Luciano.
Chapman’s addition leaves the Giants with a surplus at third base, and probably the possibility to make further huge strikes. Incumbent J.D. Davis is coming off a strong 12 months and is off to a robust begin this spring, and the Giants even have had Casey Schmitt within the hot-corner combine. It is unclear how they will discover enjoying time for Davis, however Schmitt has been transferring round this spring, seeing loads of reps at shortstop early in camp.
The transfer additionally removes one other avenue for Wilmer Flores, the very best hitter on final 12 months’s group, however these are issues Melvin might be desperate to deal with. He was there when Chapman arrived within the huge leagues in 2017, and now will reunite along with his former A’s third baseman throughout the Bay Bridge.
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