Chapman Uninterested in Trade: Future Uncertain for Giants
ATLANTA — Matt Chapman recently shared with the California Post that he’s not thinking about waving his no-trade clause, mainly because Buster Posey, the President of Baseball Operations, hasn’t reached out to him regarding the matter.
“I haven’t heard anything from Buster,” Chapman mentioned before the Giants kicked off a three-game series against the Braves. “It just didn’t really cross my mind.”
This might change as the August 3 trade deadline approaches.
With the Giants reportedly 14 games under .500, they appear to be open for trades. Chapman’s recent performance could entice teams looking for help, particularly at third base.
According to reports from ESPN’s Buster Olney and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Giants are starting to consider offers for Chapman as well as two other underperforming infielders, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, both of whom have long-term contracts.
For Chapman to be traded, he would need to waive the full no-trade clause included in his six-year, $151 million extension, signed after the 2023 season. This clause had previously complicated negotiations with former PBO Farhan Zaidi; nevertheless, Posey was able to finalize those talks shortly before taking over the role.
Back then, Chapman was excited to play under manager Bob Melvin, whom he knew from his Athletics days. However, with Posey opting to replace Melvin with rookie college coach Tony Vitello, situations might feel different now.
But Chapman insists that these changes don’t alter his perspective. “There are still a lot of good people in this clubhouse,” he stated.
So far this season, Chapman has a batting average of .261 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. He has been to the postseason four times but hasn’t played in the playoffs since 2023, his last season with the Blue Jays. Given San Francisco’s playoff odds plummeting to 2.5%, as per FanGraphs, it seems his postseason drought will continue—at least in a Giants uniform.
Still, Chapman remains optimistic. “There’s something about this clubhouse,” he said. “I know we haven’t put everything together yet, but I still believe in this team.”
As for Vitello, he seems to be navigating his first trade deadline as a rookie manager. Like Chapman, he hasn’t received any directives from Posey or other executives about possible trades. “We were not instructed to do anything like that,” Vitello noted, though he acknowledged changes were in the air. “What happens after the talks will probably be more focused. It makes sense to stay open to discussions, whether it’s with the Braves or anyone else.”
Given that the Giants are currently trailing nearly every team in the National League aside from the Rockies, it’s not surprising they’re looking to acquire future assets. Letting go of significant contracts tied to Chapman, Adames, and Devers might be a prudent move, reminiscent of Posey’s ascent strategy.
Chapman’s contract, along with the hefty deals for Adames and Devers, collectively totals over $500 million—an investment meant to propel the Giants back to postseason contention for the first time since 2021.
At the moment, it seems Chapman’s extension is the most marketable of the trio. His recent resurgence at the plate—six home runs and a 1.421 OPS in June—alongside his stellar defense, positions him as the Giants’ most valuable player according to bWAR (3.2).
Meanwhile, Adames and Devers find themselves among 16 eligible batters with zero or negative value per FanGraphs. Adames has a remaining contract of $140 million through 2031 but maintains a below-average on-base percentage and defensive metrics.
On the other hand, Devers, initially viewed as the next major offensive threat since Barry Bonds, has struggled as of late, with a significant portion of his hefty contract still owed.
Though it may be challenging to part with Chapman, his full trade clause implies he has a say in the matter.
