Did the San Francisco Giants make a major mistake with their star third baseman?
The biggest one has arguably been Matt Chapman, who's putting the finishing touches on another All-Star-caliber season in his return to the Bay Area. The 31-year-old has proven to be one of the best signings of the offseason, slashing .249/.334/.446 with 22 home runs, 91 runs and 69 RBI. He's also stolen a career-high 14 bases while continuing to play excellent defense at the hot corner, contributing to his impressive 6.3 WAR total.
Skills-wise, Chapman has shown no signs of erosion. He's having his best season in years and does everything well. With his power, plate discipline and defense, the four-time Gold Glove winner is one of the most well-rounded players in baseball. Furthermore, Chapman is built to last. At 6'0 and 215 pounds, the former All-Star has a solid, sturdy athletic frame. Third basemen also tend to age fairly well, as seen by Mike Schmidt, Graig Nettles, Brooks Robinson, Chipper Jones and others.
Taking all of that into account, there's not much reason to worry about Chapman going forward. He seems like the type of player who will age well and be able to stay on the field. Some decline and injuries are to be expected as he gets older, of course, but he should remain an above-average player for a few more years at least, especially if the Giants DH him more regularly.
San Francisco has made some questionable roster decisions recently, but extending Chapman doesn't seem like it will be one of them.Tyler grew up in Massachusetts and is a huge Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox. He went to Tufts University and played club baseball for the Jumbos. Since graduating, he has worked for MLB.com, The Game Day, FanDuel and Forbes. When he's not writing about baseball, he enjoys running, traveling, and playing fetch with his golden retriever.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
49ers' Ricky Pearsall to miss at least 4 games after being shot in attempted robberySan Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco.
Read more »
San Francisco Giants Third Baseman Among the Best in BaseballWhere does Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants rank among the best third baseman in the majors?
Read more »
Elite Pitcher Listed Among San Francisco Giants’ Future Core StarsThe San Francisco Giants are trying to rebuild a winner and this pitcher is a big piece of the puzzle in new core player and team rankings.
Read more »
San Francisco Giants Rookie Doesn’t Have Long To Earn Full Time MLB JobThe San Francisco Giants are giving their rookie another chance to prove himself at the MLB level, but he doesn't have a long time to do it.
Read more »
San Francisco Giants' Blake Snell on Historic Tear Entering Start vs. DiamondbacksBlake Snell, who earned NL Pitcher of the Month in August, will take the mound for the San Francisco Giants on Thursday riding a never-before-seen streak.
Read more »
San Francisco Giants Sign Matt Chapman to ExtensionThe San Francisco Giants have signed third baseman Matt Chapman to an extension that will likely run the rest of his career.
Read more »