With Matt Chapman gone, the Blue Jays have a huge void at third base. The alternatives for filling it are a serious worry.
Although Chapman is the greatest hot corner option available in free agency, a reunion in Toronto might not be possible.
This off-season, the Blue Jays have a number of holes to fill, with third base maybe being the most difficult.
There’s a distinct lack of depth in the hot corner in a weak hitter-focused free-agent class. The player that many Jays critics would prefer not to see return is the best player available.
After spending two seasons in Toronto, Matt Chapman went on the open market this month. He displayed a lot of power and played defense worthy of a gold glove, but he also had far too many wasted at-bats.
Chapman was more often the cause of the issue than the remedy during a poor season at the plate. The 30-year-old’s slot in the lineup became a black hole when the ball wasn’t flying out of his bat due to a lack of consistent contact, which became a season-long problem. His offensive had been so awful by September that several supporters demanded that he be benched in favor of rookie Davis Schneider.
Chapman has a clear upside despite his challenges. With the Oakland A’s, he placed among the top 10 vote-getters for American League Most Valuable Player in both 2018 and 2019. He demonstrated that potential once more in April, hitting.384 with 20 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs.
Few people can perform as well as Chapman when he’s at the top of his game. This off-season, his power and excellent glove have made him a highly sought-after commodity. After turning down the Jays’ $20.35 million (U.S.) qualifying offer, Chapman is expected to accept a $150 million, six-year contract, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
The Jays may not want to pay the asking price, but they can afford it.
Chapman had a scorching start, but after May 1st, he hit just.205 with a dismal on-base plus slugging percentage of.659. This market can’t quickly forget the swing and miss that comes with it, even though other markets could concentrate on the power.
There’s no denying that Chapman has been a beloved part of the pitching staff and a cherished member of the clubhouse. The issue is whether spending long-term money on a player who performs best when positioned in the bottom third of the lineup is appropriate for a club that has to improve offensively. Alternatively, perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask, Can they afford not to? given the dearth of practical options.
After Chapman, Jeimer Candelario is usually regarded as the best third baseman available. The timing of the 29-year-old’s free agency entry is perfect. The Detroit Tigers non-tendered Candelario a year ago after he hit.217/.272/.361 in 124 games. After a strong season with the Washington Nationals, he is expected to earn $70-million over the course of a four-year contract.
That’s a lot of money for a player who has been wildly inconsistent (.643 OPS in 2019, .872 in 2020, .795 in 2021, .633 in 2022 and .807 in 2023).
Based on recent track record, Candelario might have the better bat, but the glove isn’t remotely comparable. While Chapman is considered one of the game’s top defenders, Candelario is average at best. He fits at third for the short term, but if his stay is long a transition to first or designated hitter will be required.
The next best option might be Gio Urshela, who was designated for assignment by the Jays in 2018. Unlike Chapman, Urshela doesn’t strike out a lot and hits for a decent average, but also offers limited power for a team that needs pop.
If the Jays take a run at Urshela, they’d be gambling on a comeback season. He was a disappointment last year for the Los Angeles Angels, registering just 10 extra-base hits before fracturing his pelvis in June. But prior to that, he hit .290 with a .799 OPS from 2019 to 2022. The upside is that Urshela would provide solid defence on a short-term deal.
The top three are followed by a significant decline. Josh Donaldson, a longtime veteran, recently stated in an interview with The Score that he would be interested in rejoining the Jays. However, he is coming off a season in which he hit.152 with an OPS of.667 while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees. The previous season was hardly any better.
A compelling narrative might be created by Donaldson rejoining the team he helped win two AL Championship Series in 2015 and 2016, but given his recent form and his history of strained relations with the front management, it doesn’t seem likely. The 37-year-old is probably going to work with someone else if he comes back for one more season.
The top three are followed by a significant decline. Josh Donaldson, a longtime veteran, recently stated in an interview with The Score that he would be interested in rejoining the Jays. However, he is coming off a season in which he hit.152 with an OPS of.667 while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees. The previous season was hardly any better.
Although the 39-year-old Justin Turner is more appealing, he is not a regular option at third base after making just seven appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2023. His at bats would have to be mostly at first base or designated hitter. He might be useful in a platoon, but not as a starting third baseman. Even less desirable are other choices like Evan Longoria or Mike Moustakas.
There are a few internal contenders to take into account. The Jays may give the job to Cavan Biggio or Schneider, or they could let prospects Addison Barger and Elvis Martinez fight for playing time. The problem is that, with Whit Merrifield’s departure, there is another opening at second base, where all four of them are thought to be superior defenders.
First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette have two more years left under their team control with the Jays. The only option to prolong this window of opportunity is to make the next move and win the playoffs. The window of opportunity is starting to narrow.
Reaching that objective would require finding the ideal player to play third base. Sadly, there’s a lot of risk associated with this bunch of free-agent third basemen for general manager Ross Atkins. Worse still, there won’t be much left after a couple are removed from the board. The Jays will have to make the most of a difficult circumstance at third base.
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