Newly acquired Giants third baseman Matt Chapman knew he had to return to the Bay Area when manager Bob Melvin traded him from the San Diego Padres to San Francisco during the offseason.
Chapman, 30, spent the first five seasons of his MLB career with Melvin and the Oakland Athletics, a time he believes could have lasted longer.
At his induction press conference Monday, Chapman said he was destined to be reunited with his old manager with the Giants.
“It was hard to really predict what was going to happen. [in MLB free agency]” Chapman told reporters on Monday. “But I knew Baumel was going to San Francisco, and it seemed like fate. And I think there's still some unfinished business.
“The unfinished business for me is that I thought we had built something really special with the A team and unfortunately it was taken away from us and we disbanded.”
Chapman played in 573 games with Melvin and the Athletics from 2017 to 2021, was named to the MLB All-Star team in 2019, and finished in the top 10 in the AL MVP race twice (2018, 2019). He won three Gold Glove Awards.
During that span, Oakland experienced two 90-win seasons, appeared in the American League Wild Card Series twice, and advanced to the divisional round. The former Athletics infielder wanted to win next to Melvin in Oakland, but ownership chose a different path and traded Chapman to the Toronto Blue Jays in March 2022.
Reminiscing, Chapman recognized the difference in approach between Oakland and San Francisco and is ready to compete for a title with Melvin with his new team.
“Coming back here, an organization like the Giants, a team that's not afraid to spend money, a team that's not afraid to take free agents, keep the players together and keep adding all the things you want. “I got an opportunity to be on a team that I hope a winning franchise will do,” Chapman said.
“Now we have the opportunity to do that here and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it. I'm very happy and excited to start this new journey.”
The Giants have spent more money than the Athletics this offseason, acquiring star players like Jorge Soler and Jung-Hoo Lee, as well as signing Chapman to a one-year, $18 million contract, followed by a four-year deal. There is a possibility that
San Francisco finished the 2023 MLB season in 3rd place in the National League West with a record of 79 wins and 83 losses, coming off a poor season in which they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, but the Giants have a sense of crisis in the competition this season. It shows. .
Chapman believes the Giants will give him “the best opportunity” as he is betting on his success this season. But Melvin is just as big a reason for signing with San Francisco.
“The list is endless,” Chapman emphasized. “I think [Melvin’s] Just consistent. [He’s] Same guy every day. He trusts his players. He believes in his players. He makes you feel like you're the guy he wants in “those” situations. And I feel like he's finding really good situations to put guys in. Everyone always has a good experience playing with him.
“And I know he's always the most prepared guy. He wants to win and we have a lot of the same values. We've only just scratched the surface of what makes us such great managers. [he] And just having a feel for what's going on with the team and what the team needs on any given day. ”
The California natives have spent a lot of time together throughout their professional careers, and their partnership could only continue to grow.
Chapman believes his fit on Melvin's team will be like “riding a bike,” and the two are on the same page and intend to compete for a World Series championship.
Download and follow the Giants Talk podcast
