The San Francisco Giants have begun to slump after a recent surge. They are now under the .500 mark after a loss to the Atlanta Braves.
San Francisco is slipping in the playoff race, as they sit 4 1/2 games back of the third and final National League Wild Card spot, and they may need to turn their focus to 2025 soon.
They may have a hole to fill, however, as third baseman Matt Chapman is expected to opt out of his contract, and Jim Bowden believes the third baseman may receive a nice payday.
"The four-time Gold Glove Award winner has player options for 2025 and 2026 at $17 million and $18 million, respectively," Bowden wrote. "He's expected to opt out with a $2 million buyout this offseason and should get the long-term deal he was looking for last winter."
Chapman signed with San Francisco for three years and $54 million, but he is obviously expected to opt out of his current deal. This would make him one of the top available bats on the free agent market.
The 31-year-old is hitting just .246, but has hit 19 home runs, driven in 60 runs, stolen 12 bases, and posted a .780 OPS. His stats should be enough to warrant him receiving the long-term deal he wants, and he could potentially sign for four years or more with his next team.
San Francisco could also keep him around and give him the contract he was looking for last offseason. We'll see how Chapman's free agency ultimately develops this coming winter.
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