Source: Chapman, Giants reach $54M, 3-year deal
NEW YORK » Third baseman Matt Chapman and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Chapman will get $20 million this year and can earn $18 million in 2025 and $16 million in 2026, the person said, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity Saturday because the agreement had not been announced. Chapman has the ability to opt out after each season to become a free agent again.
Chapman, 30, won his fourth Gold Glove last year and turned down a $20,325,000 qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 14. Because Chapman turned down the qualifying offer, the Giants will lose their second-round draft pick and give up $500,000 from their international signing bonus pool. Toronto will get an extra draft selection after the fourth round.
Chapman batted .240 with 17 home runs, 39 doubles, 54 RBIs and a .755 OPS in 140 games last season.
Chapman’s deal is similar to the $80 million, three-year agreement between the Cubs and outfielder Cody Bellinger. Both deals were negotiated by agent Scott Boras, who also has pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery along with designated hitter J.D. Martinez still remaining on the market. SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. » Giants righthander Tristan Beck is scheduled to have surgery Monday to remove an aneurysm in the upper part of his pitching arm.
Beck was competing for a spot in the back end of the rotation for San Francisco. Beck, 27, went 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA over 33 appearances with three starts as a rookie last season.
Braves’ Acuña dealing with knee irritation
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around the meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee.
The reigning NL MVP had an MRI on Friday. He will be evaluated on Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired the outfielder’s torn right ACL in July 2021.
Acuña, 26, is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but that timeline could change after he sees ElAttrache.
“Right now we’re trying to be optimistic,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters in Florida on Saturday.
Acuña posted “I’LL BE BACK “on social media on Saturday.
Acuña hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 steals in 159 games last season.
Manoah has MRI
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah felt some soreness during a bullpen session on Friday. He had an MRI that showed “no structural concern at all,” manager John Schneider said.
“He was throwing and kind of just said ‘Eh, it feels a little bit cranky,’ and just wanted to be extra careful at this point in camp,” Schneider told reporters in Florida.
Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts for Toronto in 2022. But he struggled last year, going 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA in 19 starts.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander hit three batters and threw just 17 of 38 pitches for strikes while working 1.2 innings in his first spring start on Tuesday.
“Didn’t really bounce back the way he wanted to after his start, so we’re kind of just taking it day to day right now,” Schneider said.
Grissom shut down
Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom has been shut down because of a left groin strain. Manager Alex Cora told reporters in Florida that Grissom could miss the beginning of the regular season.
Grissom was acquired in a December trade with Atlanta that moved pitcher Chris Sale to the Braves. The 23-year-old Grissom hit .280 with nine RBIs in 23 major league games last year.
With Grissom out, Enmanuel Valdez could take over at second base for Boston. He made 44 starts at second last season.