Matt Chapman Talks Pending Free Agency and Walk-Year Mentality
PITTSBURGH — The pressure of pending free agency isn't a new feeling for Matt Chapman.
The Blue Jays third baseman has played with something to earn his entire career—a spot on the roster, an arbitration deal, and now a potentially massive payday on the open market.
"Every game matters," Chapman said. "I’ve always kind of felt the same. When I was on the minimum just trying to prove what I can do, or arbitration, and now free agency. Every year I’ve had the same mentality.”
Through the first five weeks of the 2023 season, Chapman sits fourth in the league in fWAR and earned the American League Player of the Month award for April. His goal entering the season was 'getting back to what he was capable of,' and now he's on pace to set career highs in batting average, OBP, OPS, doubles, and RBI.
Chapman's on-field performance can drive up the price for his future contract, but the other pieces around him on the market have fallen in his favor, too. Toronto’s hot corner watched the movement in his free agent class this winter, citing how recent extensions for fellow 3Bs Rafael Devers and Manny Machado changed his free agency outlook. Chapman now projects to be easily the top free agent infielder and one of the best overall hitters on the market behind Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
“It’s good to see those guys get contracts like that," he said. "It only helps the third baseman market. But obviously, Shohei's probably the most prized possession out there.”
Chapman also benefits from having one of baseball's most notable agents in his corner. The 3B is represented by Scott Boras, who landed four clients contracts over $150 mill guaranteed last offseason alone (Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Rodon, Brandon Nimmo). Boras also has a tendency to take his clients to free agency, with midseason extensions a rarity.
“I trust that [Boras'] process works and he knows what he’s doing," Chapman said. "I think it’s something that we’ll look back at after the end of this season and then we’ll really start to sit down."
Chapman is "of course" open to staying in Toronto on a long-term deal, he said, but the 3B's focus is on the field, for now. The money, extension talks, and pending winter decisions are out of his hands—he'll leave that to Boras and the Blue Jays.
“I know that both parties want to make something happen," Chapman said.
"But right now I’m focused on baseball and focused on winning. And if they want to talk, it’s gotta be with Scott [Boras].”
Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon