J.D. Davis, 31, may have been the most surprised by the news that the San Francisco Giants were signing All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman. The Giants were hit hard by free agency at the same third base position. He was forced to give up his starting spot overnight.
Local media in the United States, including MLB.com, reported that Chapman, a free agent infielder, agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with San Francisco on March 3 (KST). Although the San Francisco club has not yet made an official announcement, the deal includes $20 million this year, $18 million next year, and $16 million the year after, with the option to become a free agent through an opt-out after each season.
Chapman, who has been with the Toronto Blue Jays since 2022 after making his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2017, is one of the best third basemen in the game. In seven seasons, he batted .244 (3,138-for-754) with 155 home runs, 426 RBIs and a .790 OPS in 868 games, averaging 22 home runs per year and a single-season high of 36 (2019). Four-time Gold Glove and two-time Platinum Glove winner with one of the best third base defenses in baseball.
While the offense has been in decline for the past three years,
San Francisco needed to bolster a lineup that ranked 19th in home runs (174), 27th in on-base percentage (.383), and 26th in OPS (.695) last year. 스포츠토토 After signing center fielder Jung-Hoo Lee (six years, $113 million) and designated hitter Jorge Soler (three years, $42 million), they added another weapon to their lineup by getting Chapman for far less than expected.
The signing of Chapman comes as a blow to Davis, who was slated to be San Francisco’s starting third baseman this season. Davis, who met with local reporters before an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, said he learned of Chapman’s signing after watching film the night before and receiving texts from friends. “I was definitely surprised, I didn’t hear anything from the organization about it,” he said.
“I could be traded,” Davis said, “or I could play third base and Chapman could move to shortstop. “I don’t know what their game plan is, I don’t know what [president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi] wants to do and how he wants to do it, so I don’t want to put words in his mouth,” Davis said, adding, “I want to win, I want to do what’s best for the team.”
Davis was dogged by trade rumors last winter,
But was told by San Francisco manager Bob Melvin, “I believe in you. We’re counting on you a lot at third base.” He was told by manager Bob Melvin that the plan was to use him as a starter. But the arrival of Chapman likely changed that plan. He didn’t want to lose his starting spot. “I want to be a starter,” Davis said. “It’s always been my dream to be a third baseman. I want to be the starting third baseman every game,” Davis said.
Davis, a right-handed-hitting third baseman who made his debut with the Houston Astros in 2017, was traded to the New York Mets in 2019 and became a starter. In 140 games in 2019, he batted .410 (126-for-410) with 22 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .895 OPS.
After a down year in 2022, he was traded to San Francisco in August of that year for Darin Ruff. Davis bounced back after the trade, but he struggled last year, batting .248 (119-for-480) with 18 homers, 69 RBIs and a .738 OPS in 144 games. A free agent after the season, he was rumored to be traded in the offseason, but it didn’t materialize, and he was set to enter spring training as the starting third baseman.
Davis can play left field and first base in addition to third base.
However, the outfield is quite deep with Jung-Hoo Lee, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, Blake Seibowl, and Luis Matos. With Ramonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores at first base and Soler at designated hitter, there’s not much room for Davis. With no clear-cut starting shortstop, it’s not out of the question that Chapman could slide in at shortstop, but he’s only played four games (1 start, 10 innings) at shortstop since his big league debut.
Coincidentally, Davis and Chapman were born in 1991 and attended Cal State Fullerton together. At the time, Davis was pushed out of his primary third base position by Chapman. Once again, he had the unfortunate fate of being pushed to third base by Chapman.