The New York Yankees are striving to reclaim first place in the American League East from the Baltimore Orioles. As the July 30 trade deadline approaches, general manager Brian Cashman is seeking roster upgrades. Could San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman be a realistic option for the Yankees?
Potential Targets for the Yankees
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic identified four third basemen the Yankees might target due to their inability to rely on veteran DJ LeMahieu. One of those options is Chapman, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Giants this past offseason.
Kirschner notes that because Chapman is likely to become a free agent this offseason, his cost wouldn’t be as high as other options like Isaac Paredes, making him an attractive target for the Yankees if the Giants decide to sell.
Chapman’s Performance and Potential Impact
Chapman has an opt-out clause he could use to re-enter free agency at season’s end. Currently, he’s hitting .234/.320/.409 with 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 65 runs scored across 412 plate appearances for San Francisco.
While Chapman’s offensive numbers aren’t outstanding, they are significantly better than what LeMahieu has produced for the Yankees in 2024. LeMahieu, who started his season late due to an early injury, is hitting just .177/.270/.202 with no homers, 11 RBIs, and 11 runs scored in 142 plate appearances. Even if Chapman’s offense doesn’t improve in New York, it would still be a substantial upgrade.
Defensively, Statcast’s Outs Above Average (OAA) metric ranks LeMahieu (five OAA) ahead of Chapman (zero OAA) this season. However, Chapman is historically a superior fielder with four Gold Gloves and two Platinum Glove Awards to his name. Additionally, Chapman is known for his durability, having played in at least 145 games each year since 2018, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Giants’ Trade Deadline Plans
Despite their big moves this winter, the Giants entered July with a 47-52 record, just 3.5 games behind the final National League Wild Card spot. Kirschner suggests that the Giants’ main executive, Farhan Zaidi, is under intense pressure and the team might consider selling to recoup assets if their performance doesn’t improve.
Zaidi has expressed disappointment in the team’s performance, stating that if the Giants continue to struggle, they may need to consider selling and focusing on younger players. What the Giants decide to do before the July 30 deadline remains uncertain, but if they opt to sell, the Yankees should explore the possibility of acquiring Chapman.
