Matt Chapman and the Toronto Blue Jays agree on a contract extension. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the third baseman will sign a two-year, $25 million contract extension. Chapman is set to hit free agency following the 2023 season. The deal with the Blue Jays will buy out his final two years of arbitration. He does not give up any free agent years. The 28-year old got cost certainty for 2023 regardless of how he performs with the club.
Third baseman Matt Chapman and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a two-year, $25 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2022
Chapman, who Boras Corporation represents, is set to earn $9.5 million for the 2022 season. He would have made one more raise the following season before entering the free agency market heading into the 2024 season.
Matt Chapman Rejected A’s Offer
Before Chapman’s hip surgery in the fall of 2020, the Oakland Athletics offered their All-Star a 10-year extension. It was reportedly worth $150 million, which he rejected. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal explained that Chapman said no to the A’s for two reasons. Firstly, he “saw the writing on the wall” without a new ballpark in the team’s future. Secondly was the possibility that the roster would be torn down.
A former All-Star in 2019, Chapman was acquired last week in a deal with the A’s. Oakland received a package of prospects, including pitchers Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Logue, Kirby Snead, and infielder Kevin Smith. The three-time Gold Glove winner made a solid first impression with his new team. In his first Spring Training game, Chapman hit a two-run homer to left field, his first spring hit, and long ball as a member of the Blue Jays. Fans and Chapman’s new teammates will hope to see more of that and his superb defense all season.
Players Mentioned:
Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Logue, Kirby Snead, Kevin Smith
