New Giants manager reunites with old star as team strikes deal with 3B

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin, who has been lobbying for the front office to sign Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman all winter, finally got his man late Friday night.

Chapman has agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract, a person with direct knowledge of the contract negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly since Chapman’s contract won’t become official until he takes a physical.

Chapman, who rejected a contract offer in excess of $100 million from the Toronto Blue Jays before he became a free agent, comes to the Giants on a heavily discounted price with the market drying up on him. The four-time Gold Glove and two-time Platinum Glove winner also rejected the $20.325 million qualifying offer.

Chapman will earn $20 million this season, $18 million in 2025 and $16 million in 2026. He can opt out of the contract after the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

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Chapman’s value on the free agent market took a hit after his offensive struggles after April. He posted a .384 batting average with a 1.152 OPS in April, but wound up hitting just .240 last season with 17 homers and a .659 OPS.

Champan, who spent five seasons with the Oakland A’s after attending Cal State Fullerton, now returns to the Bay Area. He finished in the top 10 in MVP balloting in 2018 and 2019 while playing for Melvin with the A’s.

The signing leaves the Giants under the luxury tax at about $231 million, and could signal a move with third baseman J.D. Davis, who’s earning $6.9 million this season.

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