Last season, Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman was a letdown at the plate, hitting.240 with just 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. He did win another Gold Glove in the field, and he has played flawless defence. However, Chapman has also fallen short off the pitch this winter; he is still a free agent as March approaches. Think of that as a chance for the Chicago Cubs.
Currently, Christopher Morel, a 24-year-old utility player who spent the majority of the previous season as a designated hitter, is being pushed by the Cubs to play third base. Morel’s bat will undoubtedly make its way into the Cubs lineup, but expecting him to play third base for the entire season is a significant ask. Nick Madrigal is expected to abandon the role.
The Cubs require a capable individual to fill the post. Chapman meets all requirements.
According to baseball insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cubs are one of four teams in MLB that have the option to sign Chapman. In a video conversation, Heyman stated, “I think even the Cubs.” They are currently focusing on Morel over there. Without a doubt, if they sign Chapman and pair him with Dansby Swanson, their left side of the infield is excellent.
Matt Chapman and the Cubs Are a Perfect Fit
Like so many of Scott Boras’s clients, Chapman hasn’t been able to secure the lucrative new contract he was hoping for when free agency started. Heyman actually revealed that Chapman was looking for a $150 million deal. That was never realised.
Perhaps Chapman is prepared to give up and find a team, even on a relatively cheap deal, much like Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger (another Boras free agent) was worn down over the past few weeks and ultimately agreed to a team-friendly, three-year, $80 million contract with two opt-outs.
According to Bleacher Report, Chapman will likely sign a deal that is similar to Bellinger’s—three years, $60 million, with two options.
Naturally, this is the worst-case situation, as Zachary D. Rymer of B/R stated this week. “It makes more sense to anticipate that Boras will attempt to negotiate a smaller multiyear contract with a solid guarantee and plenty of opt-outs for Chapman, just as he did for Bellinger.”
Top Prospect Being Prepped for 3B Role
There are two things that would determine the Cubs’ willingness to pursue such a transaction.
First, do they really believe Morel can stay steady at third base? The franchise intends for prospect Matt Shaw to be the answer at third base in the long run, so hopefully he won’t have to do it for more than a year or so. It all depends on how long Shaw takes to prepare for the Major Leagues.
Although Morel is not a third baseman, the organisation hopes he can pick up the skills.
According to MLB.com, manager Craig Counsell stated, “To say he can play a lot of positions, yes.” The bat has to be in there because we have to play them at a particular level, right? Without a doubt, playing several roles is more difficult. We’ve asked Chris to move about with the players around him at this point. Thus, I believe my plan for the first few days of camp is to sort of concentrate mostly on third base.
Another aspect to consider is the team’s level of commitment to making the playoffs in 2024 following their close miss in 2023. The addition of Chapman’s glove advances the team much more if winning is the real objective.
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