Matt Chapman to the Giants a Match Made in Heaven? Defensive Star’s Perfect Fit Emerges Amidst Prolonged Off-Season

Sometimes things make too much sense for them to not happen. This offseason has already seen one deal like this when Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was an obvious connection and barely anyone was shocked except the Toronto Blue Jays fans. A similar story is currently running between former Jays slugger Matt Chapman and the San Francisco Giants. It’s obvious they’re a good match, but something is somehow blocking this move. 

In his bid to get a better deal, Scott Boras has delayed Chapman’s free agency. But even after there are flights to Chicago or Seattle waiting, Chapman’s destination seems to be the terminal that takes him to the Bay Area.

Is the Giants – Matt Chapman link too good to ignore? 

There’s a growing consensus that the Giants could’ve done a little better this offseason. After a 79-win season, they needed to do some heavy lifting, but till now the Bay Bombers have remained happy with light conditioning. While additions of Jung-Ho Lee, Robbie Ray, and Jordan Hicks are commendable, they’re not enough for a team that lacks power-hitting. This is one of the reasons why MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa predicted that Matt Chapman is an obvious addition to the Giants. 

Noting how the Bay Bombers have lost a lot of their free-agent targets in the last few years, Randhawa said, “A strong finish to this one would be an important way to go into the new season.” And that’s true. Not only would Chapman change the recent image of the Giants’ recent reputation of losing big names, but will benefit the team in the long run. 

The relationship between Chapman and the Giants’ front office is common knowledge. The current skipper Bob Melvin trained Chapman during his entire stint in the Oakland A’s. But what’s important is that Chapman arguably peaked under Melvin. As in his first four seasons, Chapman had a tremendous .839 OPS. It has fallen to .743 ever since. 

Watch This Story: Unveiling The Top 5 MLB Icons, Creating Buzz In The Free-Agent Market This Offseason

So if Melvin manages to recreate the magic formula with Chapman, it will not only benefit Chapman but the Giants. Ever since the surprise 107-win season in 2021, the team has struggled with heavy hits. 

The Hitting Troubles of the Bay Bombers

In both 2022 and 2023, only one hitter could cross the 20 home-runs mark for the Bay Bombers. According to Baseball Reference, after ranking 1st in the NL in home runs hit in 2021, the Giants have gradually fallen to 6th in 2022 and 9th in 2023. Yes, in that same span, Chapman too has fallen from his lofty heights, but even with 17 homers, he’d be right near the top of Giants hitters. 

Melvin has always gotten the best out of Matt Chapman. So if he succeeds again, this signing could prove to be massively game-changing for the Giants. But then, it’s not about perfection but price, and Boras has decided what the correct price is. Will the Giants match it?

Read more: MLB Rumors: Dwindling Matt Chapman Interest a Concern for Scott Boras? Prolonged Free Agency Impacts Star’s Sweepstakes