The Blue Jays tried to extend Matt Chapman before he reached free agency, TSN’s Scott Mitchell reported, but Chapman rejected Toronto’s offer.
It’s unclear exactly when the Jays made their offer or how much money was on the table, although Mitchell said Chapman passed on more than $100 million over the term of a four- or five-year contract.
That’s significantly less than the six-year, $150 million contract that MLB Trade Rumors predicted for Chapman, who was seventh on the list of the top 50 free agents of the winter.
With Shohei Ohtani as a DH-only player, Cody Bellinger (ranked No.2) and Chapman are the only real players ranked in the top 11 on the MLBTR list, amid a heavy free-agent class.
throw the ball.
The relative lack of position player depth in the market works in Chapman’s favor after a somewhat shaky season.
Chapman produced 3.5 fWAR thanks largely to another stellar defensive performance, as he won the fourth Gold Glove of his career.
His .
240/.
330/.
424 slash line and 17 homers in 581 plate appearances resulted in an above-average 110 wRC+, though Chapman struggled mightily at the plate after hitting the mound.
Best Player of the Year award.
Finger injuries later.
during the season partly contributed to these difficulties.
However, Chapman’s hardline numbers are among the best of any baseball player.
This has been a trend throughout Chapman’s career, and 2023 also continued his history of above-average walk rates and multiple strikeouts.
Given that Chapman was in hot form at the plate in July and early August, agent Scott Boras would certainly point to the finger injury as the main culprit for the offensive slowdown, arguing that a Chapman healthy will post better numbers at the plate.
‘ future.
.
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and therefore deserves a more onerous contract.
It’s relatively rare to see high-profile free agents like Chapman accept this quasi-free-agent extension offer, and it’s rare to see a Boras prospect pass up an opportunity to test the free market .
Mitchell believes the Blue Jays could still be candidates to sign Chapman, but perhaps only in a situation where Chapman returns if he can’t find a bigger deal, rather than if the Jays increase their offer.
Since Chapman will almost certainly turn down a one-year qualifying offer worth $20.325 million, the Blue Jays could salvage a draft pick if Chapman signs elsewhere.
This compensatory pick will fall between the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2024 draft, as Toronto has passed the luxury tax threshold in 2023.
The Jays are looking for players at multiple positions even if Chapman returns or not, although retaining the player’s third base would obviously solve a major problem.
straight holes.