MLB Rumors: Matt Chapman Interests Giants, Blue Jays in 2023 Free Agency

Free agent third baseman Matt Chapman is drawing interest in his most recent team, the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the San Francisco Giants.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post provided the latest report during a chat with Lauren Shehadi of MLB Network on Wednesday (2:45 mark).

In sum, the Giants have interested and already spoke with Chapman already. Chapman has a connection to the Giants in the form of his old-Oakland Athletics manager, Bob Melvin, who has now taken on the role as San Francisco's skipper.

The Blue Jays also want Chapman back, although Heyman noted that the third baseman already rejected a nine-figure offer from Toronto before. TSN's Scott Mitchell provided a Nov. 10 report on that front.

"The Jays haven't given up hope that Matt Chapman doesn't find the massive contract he's hoping for in free agency and would take something in the neighbourhood of $100 million over four or five years.

"Considering he already turned down more than that from Toronto in the form of a long-term extension, it still seems unlikely that the Jays get their all-world defensive third baseman back, but it's not a foregone conclusion."

Chapman, who turns 31 next April, is a four-time Gold Glove and two-time Platinum Glove winner. The seven-year MLB veteran hit .240 (.755 OPS) with 17 home runs and 54 RBI last season.

Chapman began the 2023 season on fire with five home runs, 21 RBI, a .384 batting average (1.152 OPS) and 17 runs in his first 27 games.

The rest of the 2023 campaign didn't go nearly as well, with Chapman hitting just .205 (.659 OPS) alongside 12 homers and 33 RBI in 113 games. Chapman also suffered a sprained middle finger that kept him out for nearly three weeks in last August and early September.

Chapman was still excellent defensively, however, winning yet another Gold Glove. His efforts helped the Blue Jays reach the playoffs following an 89-win season.

Ultimately, Chapman is an above-average offensive player and a fantastic defensive one, and that should make him highly coveted on the free-agent market. A contract over $100 million seems inevitable despite his second-half struggles. It's just a matter of where he finds the best deal at this point.