7:59 am: Sportsnet’s Shea Davide and Hazel May report that the A’s and Jays are still working to determine the final pieces in the trade, but it is already expected to be completed (Twitter link).
7:02 am: Blue Jays and Athletics are finalizing a deal that will send a third baseman Matt Chapman From Auckland to Toronto, Tweets John Morosi of MLB.com. he is Add Jays is not expected to include any prospective members of the opening day roster in the deal. Carlos Berga, the former All Star second baseman, who previously broke the news about the signing of the Jays both Yemi Garcia and (last season out) Marcus SiminAnd the First reported on Instagram That a valid commercial agreement.
The acquisition of Chapman would give the Blue Jays not only the third best defensive player in the game but also one of the best baseball players in any position. Since Chapman debuted in the 2017 Major League, his 88 defensive points have been saved and he ranked 47.3 in the Ultimate Zone both in track only. Mocky Pets And the Andrelton Simmons Among all the great pioneers. The Statcast Outs measure is largely above average, ranking him 10th among all the top league players, regardless of position, since 2017. In fact, Chapman has been twice recognized as the best defender in the league by his selection as the Platinum Glove winner. in the league.
Of course, Chapman is far from being just a gauntlet. From 2018-19, he was a legitimate candidate for Player of the Year based on the strength of his combined offensive and defensive prowess. The previous No. 25 overall pick scored 263/.348/.507 slashes with 60 home points while playing his home games at the Oakland Coliseum during those two seasons, finishing top 7 in the MLS Player of the Year vote on both occasions.
Chapman’s offensive production has fallen sharply over the past two seasons, due in large part to a major groin injury in 2020 he tried to play through. Before undergoing surgery. This procedure repaired the labrum tear and “cleaned” the head of the right femur. Even with his lower production, Chapman still commands power (37 home runs, 0.216 ISO) and draws plenty of walking (11.4%), but his strike rate has gone from 22.8% in 2018-2019 all the way to 33.1% in 2020-21. Over the past two seasons, he has posted a combined .215/.206/.431 hitting streak.
The Jays are certainly betting that Chapman will bounce back somewhat on the board now 18 months after his September 2020 surgery. However, even if he doesn’t return to his MVP-caliber levels from 2018-19, the new release of Chapman’s real three hits He still deserved 3.5 wins above substitution for both Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs last season. It’s a clear upgrade for a Jays team who are hoping to run a deep post-season on a dominant attacking and rotating powerhouse that has improved by leaps and bounds in recent seasons.
Chapman’s salary has not yet been settled, because he qualifies for arbitration and has not settled on a price point with an A prior to closing. he is Forecast by MLBTR contributor Matt Schwartz to earn $9.5 million next season and will be due an additional raise for the 2023 campaign before reaching the free agency in the 2023-24 season. While Jays fans might be looking forward to it Matt OlsonA quick post-trade extension from Auckland to his hometown of Braves, it should be noted that as a Boras Corporation client, Chapman appears less likely to follow the same path. However, he will remain locked in as Toronto’s third baseman for at least the next two seasons.
Adding push Chapman hard Kavan Biggio To the second base, where it is more convenient to play from a defensive point of view. Chapman’s group will also play well together Bo Bechet, who drew mixed reviews for his glove business at Shortstop. Statcast notes that Bichette is much stronger at balls hitting his left side than those hitting his right, so getting some extra range from the third baseman would be especially helpful.
It’s worth noting that Chapman isn’t a good fit for the Toronto squad that veers almost entirely off the right-hand side. He would have given them eight right-handed hitters in the starting lineup, with Biggio the only one. This right lean was part of the reason why there was potential Freddy Freeman Seems pretty decent for jays. This acquisition technically does not rule out a Freeman signing, but it does eliminate any speculation Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Back to the third rule. That’s in the team’s best interest anyway, as Guerrero has never been a solid defensive choice in the hot corner. Freeman’s addition of theory would propel Guerrero into the role of the designated primary hitter earlier in his career more than Jays might like, but the sheer offensive firepower of that lineup will make it worth considering. Instead, Jays has been linked to Kyle Schwarber, who added a left-handed bat to the left field and the designated hitter combination. No matter which path the Jays take, it seems likely that they have at least one movement left in them.
For A, Chapman’s trade represents the latest step in dismantling a list It was very much expected But it is nonetheless disheartening for the fan base. Chapman follows fan favorites Olson and Chris Bassett Out the door, and Oakland is unlikely to stop clearing its roster with these three. left-handed Shawn Mind, a free agent at the end of the season, looks almost certain to trade in. right hand Frankie Montascenter fielder Ramon Lauriano and loyal Le Trevino They all have multiple seasons left of the club’s dominance but they can still change their hands. Montas, in particular, has been a target of clubs hungry for promotion.
More is coming.
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