There was the slightest of chances the New York Yankees had a potential solution to their question marks at third base this offseason.
With the expectation that second baseman Gleyber Torres will walk in free agency this winter, thus moving Jazz Chisholm from third to second, the Yankees are expected to be in the market at the hot corner.
One potential solution to that problem would have been San Francisco Giants star Matt Chapman, a player many believed would opt out of his contract in hopes of a better one this offseason.
The Yankees were linked as a potential landing spot for the star third baseman.
That's no longer the case, however, as Chapman and the Giants reportedly agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $151 million, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
The contract wipes out the final two years of his previous deal with San Francisco.
A lot of things would have had to go the Yankees way in order for Chapman to arrive in The Bronx, but he was still potentially one of the top options.
Despite signing with the Giants late in the process during the offseason, Chapman put together another stellar campaign on both sides of the ball.
The 31-year-old is slashing .247/.333/.445 with 22 home runs, 69 RBI and a 121 OPS+. He's also continued to perform at an elite level in the field with seven outs above average (OAA) — a mark that sits in the 93rd percentile.
The Yankees will focus on re-signing Juan Soto, but finding a viable third baseman will be another key objective this winter.
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