The San Francisco Giants may be trying their best to help new manager Bob Melvin feel right at home.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post said Wednesday during an appearance on “B/R Walkoff” that the Giants may be in the mix to sign former All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman. Heyman notes that Melvin was Chapman’s old manager on the Oakland Athletics and that many people in baseball believe that the Giants hired Melvin in part to lure free agents.
The 30-year-old Chapman, a free agent, played for Melvin on the A’s from 2017-21. He enjoyed the best years of his career under Melvin, especially in 2019 when Chapman hit 36 home runs, made an All-Star team, and finished sixth in AL MVP voting.
With the Toronto Blue Jays the last two years, Chapman was less effective at the dish, hitting a combined .234 with a .756 OPS. But he remains a wizard defensively, winning the fourth Gold Glove of his career last season.
For the Giants, JD Davis, who has greatly improved his defense to go along with his modest power, was their regular starter at third base last season. Chapman would still be an upgrade, but the Giants could opt to spend big elsewhere instead.
