The San Francisco Giants have given Matt Chapman a six-year, $151 million contract. He had previously signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the team and was expected to opt out at the end of the season.
Chapman was set to be one of, if not the top available third baseman in free agency this coming offseason, but now that he is signed, he no longer is on that list.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today notes that there is another that is now considered the top available third baseman.
“Now that Chapman is signed, Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros is widely considered the best third baseman on the free agent market this winter.
Bregman may in fact be the top third baseman on the free agent market. It remains to be seen if the Astros will ultimately be able to re-sign him.
The two-time World Series champion is hitting .261 with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, three stolen bases, and a .765 OPS. He was an American League MVP finalist in 2019 and has remained one of baseball’s top third basemen.
But with Chapman off the board, Bregman’s market may end up being even more competitive than originally anticipated. The Astros will likely put a lot of focus into trying to re-sign him, but it won’t be easy.