What’s Your Take: Would 30-Year Old Have Made More in Deal Offered by Oakland A’s?

After exploring free agency, the third baseman has officially joined the San Francisco Giants. Several years back, the Oakland A’s proposed a lucrative ten-year, $150 million contract extension to their third baseman, Matt Chapman, following his outstanding performance during the 2019 season.

However, Chapman turned down this offer, as reported by Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic. Despite continuing to demonstrate solid defensive skills and above-average batting performance, Chapman’s productivity has slightly declined since then. His recent agreement with the San Francisco Giants, as reported by Jon Heyman, spans three years and amounts to $54 million, potentially offering the Giants a bargain if Chapman maintains his recent form.

Under this deal, Chapman is set to earn $20 million in 2024, $18 million in 2025, and $16 million in 2026, with options to opt out after the first two seasons. Although Chapman underwent hip surgery in 2020, which may have affected his performance, he remains a dependable player. His reunion with former manager Bob Melvin in San Francisco could facilitate a return to his previous level of play.

Examining Chapman’s earnings since rejecting the A’s offer, he made $6,490,000 in arbitration with the A’s in 2021 and subsequently signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Blue Jays. Adding this to his current Giants deal brings his total earnings over six years to $85,490,000, significantly less than the A’s proposed $150 million over ten years. However, Chapman could potentially surpass this sum with a strong performance in the upcoming season, followed by securing a lucrative contract next winter.

It’s worth noting that Chapman’s decision to decline the A’s offer was not necessarily a poor one, as factors beyond financial compensation, such as chasing a championship or stability, may have influenced his choice. Additionally, the A’s initial offer, while seemingly undervaluing Chapman at the time, might have been more accurate given his subsequent performance.

Looking ahead, Chapman’s projected value for the upcoming season suggests that even at the lower rate the Giants are paying him per Wins Above Replacement (WAR), he would have been worth $60 million over the 2018-19 seasons when the A’s extended their offer. Despite the current advantage held by the A’s offer, Chapman’s potential to excel in 2024 suggests that rejecting the A’s deal may ultimately prove to be a wise decision.