DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a trade for Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics, addressing a gaping hole at third base with the latest bold strike.
In exchange the Blue Jays are sending four players to the A's, headlined by 2021 first-round pick Gunnar Hoglund, a right-handed pitcher. Also going to Oakland are infield prospect Kevin Smith, left-handed pitching prospect Zach Logue and left-handed reliever Kirby Snead.
Chapman is a 28-year-old All-Star and Gold Glover, who is under contractual control for the next two seasons and is projected to earn $9.5 million in his second time through arbitration. Even in a down offensive year in 2021, Chapman still produced 3.5 WAR, as calculated by Baseball Reference, and has a career OPS of .808.
The deal is reminiscent of the one from November 2014, when Brett Lawrie headlined a package the Blue Jays sent to the Athletics for another third baseman, Josh Donaldson.
Freed from Oakland’s pitcher-friendly confines, Donaldson went off during a monster 2015 that earned him American League MVP honours.
Chapman may very well benefit similarly from joining a daunting offensive lineup in the offence-friendly American League East.
With files from Hazel Mae
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