Why the A's Should Think Twice Before Reuniting with Matt Chapman

The San Francisco Giants have put their three highest-paid players, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, up for sale according to Buster Olney. Chapman, a former Oakland A's third baseman, seemed like a prime candidate for the A's just a couple of months ago.

Despite his recent hot streak, Chapman is still a streaky player, batting .260 with a .346 OBP and a 115 wRC+ (100 is league average). While he provides top-notch defense at the hot corner, there are concerns about his value to the team.

Heading into spring training, the A's didn't know who they would play at third base, and they even tried to lure Nolan Arenado, a mid-30s third baseman who is owed $42 million over his final two seasons.

Chapman, 33, has four more years of team control after 2026 and is owed just under $101 million through the 2030 season. This makes his contract the largest annual contract on the books and would tie him up through his age-37 campaign.

With the new Las Vegas ballpark expected to be a hitter-friendly environment, it's likely that the ball will fly more frequently. This could be especially true given the dome, temperature-controlled environment, and humidor that will be in place. However, this may not be all bad news for the A's, as they may not need to pay a premium for bats.

The A's have built a reputation for trading players before they reach the prime of their careers, and paying $25 million per season to Chapman just doesn't make sense.

However, one reason the A's might still consider adding Chapman to their roster is the trade options he opens up for the team. With players like Darell Hernaiz, Zack Gelof, Max Muncy, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, and Tommy White on the roster, adding Chapman could allow the team to trade some of these players for valuable pitching options.

Zack Gelof, who has been on a 20-game hit streak, will be entering his arbitration years in 2027, and it's unlikely that he'll reach Chapman's salary of $25 million. Gelof will likely be more expensive in the future, but the A's have already handed out extensions to several key players, including Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson, and Brent Rooker.

While Chapman provides solid defense and hitting, the A's already have players in place to handle those responsibilities. Adding Chapman would likely make several other players, including Gelof, trade candidates, which could help the team acquire more pitching options.