One of baseball's best all-around third basemen remains unsigned in late February in what is yet another example of MLB's broken free agency system.
Former Oakland Athletic and Toronto Blue Jay Matt Chapman does not have a home, despite the fact that he is coming off of another productive season and is just 30 years of age.
One of the major Scott Boras clients who was also previously without a deal inked one recently, as Cody Bellinger signed a 3-year, $80 million pact to return to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that includes opt-outs to test the market again.
Along with Chapman, fellow Boras clients and pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain unsigned.
While Chapman is not quite as productive as he used to be in his 2018-2019 peak in Oakland, he remains an incredibly useful veteran piece who brings elite defense to the field and a power bat to the lineup.
Related Article: MLB Free Agency: Who Will Sign Blake Snell?
MLB Free Agency: Matt Chapman
2023 Season Stats: .240, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 108 OPS+, 4.4 bWAR in 140 games
Possible Destinations: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants
Even after ponying up to bring Bellinger back, the Cubs still stand as a possible destination for Chapman, who could add to an already stacked defensive infield with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.
The Cardinals have been collecting this generation of elite infielders in their older years with serious vigor, as they already have Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt as part of their nucleus.
A return to Toronto could be in the offing as well, as the Blue Jays did not go above and beyond to fill the void Chapman left when they brought in Isiah Kiner-Falefa to play the infield while also losing Whit Merrifield.
The Mariners have a gaping hole at third base currently, with little in the way of proven big-league talent on the roster to fill that gap. Seattle has traditionally been averse to spending big money, but the addition of Chapman could go a long way toward getting that squad back to the postseason.
The Giants, too, are in need of a boost to their lineup given how wide open the National League is at the bottom of the playoff picture this year. A boost or two in San Francisco could see that team returning closer to Wild Card status.
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