As the Toronto Blue Jays arrive in San Francisco for a three-game series with the Giants, they will have a chance to catch up with an old friend.
After spending two years in Toronto, Matt Chapman left this past off-season, signing on the West Coast on a three-year, $54 million contract with player options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and a mutual option for 2027.
However, after a slow-build winter that saw some notable names take their free-agency into spring training, Chapman’s deal was first reported on March 3.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the series Tuesday, Chapman discussed whether a reunion with the Blue Jays was ever in the cards.
“It was a really strange off-season. I didn’t get as many calls or as many offers as I thought I would. Just kind of a weird market. Weird year,” he said, per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. “I didn’t talk to the Blue Jays a whole lot. They kind of had contact with us. I think they had me in mind.”
With Toronto’s pursuit of Shohei Ohtani taking up the first couple months of the off-season, Chapman said there weren’t serious talks until he was too far down the road on a deal with the Giants.
“I wasn’t sure how serious they were. I think they had other things that were on their mind before, like Ohtani and some of those things,” he said. “So, it was slow progressing for me. And then by the time the Giants came and we had something going, the Blue Jays find of came in there at the end, but it was kind of a little bit too late, unfortunately.”
Now, with San Francisco, Chapman is slashing .244/.327/.423 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. He has also continued to perform as one of the top defensive third basemen in baseball, posting six defensive runs saved through 88 games.
After a slow start, the 31-year-old has found his offensive groove of late, recording a .800 OPS since May 1.
In two years with the Blue Jays, Chapman hit 44 home runs with a .756 OPS and claimed the American League Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2023.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Toronto manager John Schneider presented Chapman with his Gold Glove.
“I really enjoyed both of my years with the Blue Jays. I appreciate them giving me the opportunity,” Chapman said about his time in Toronto.
You can watch the Blue Jays take on the Giants on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT.