Matt Chapman Trade Rumors: AL East giants expected to make move for 2019 All-Star 3B before trade deadline, per insider

Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants is expected to be a major target for teams during this trade deadline. The New York Yankees are reportedly the prime candidates to make a deal for the third baseman in the hope of resolving the team's lack of production at that particular position.

Speaking on his podcast for Bleacher Report this week, MLB insider Jon Heyman said that Chapman would be sought by quite a few teams if the Giants decide to sell.

“If [the San Francisco Giants] do sell, I wouldn’t be shocked if [Matt] Chapman is a target whether for the Yankees or someone else,” says Heyman.

Matt Chapman had signed a 3-year, $54 million deal with the San Francisco Giants just weeks before the start of the 2024 season. Aside from playing solid defense at the hot corner, Chapman has a 117 OPS+ with 10 home runs so far. He has been the most productive player on the team with a 3.2 WAR.

However, the contract has a player option at the end of each year, so Matt Chapman will probably apply for free agency in 2025. He is represented by Scott Boras and was one of the latter's clients who only signed with a team after spring training had already begun.

The Giants are likely to be buyers at the trade deadline even if they sell Matt Chapman, says Jon Heyman

The San Francisco Giants are likely to be buyers at the deadline even though Matt Chapman could be traded away. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Although Jon Heyman says that the San Francisco Giants might be tempted to sell Matt Chapman, he feels that they will largely be buyers at this trade deadline. Heyman pointed out that the Giants had bought heavily at the start of the season to reach the playoffs this year. So they will probably look to add a few more pieces to the team, with some key players returning from injury in the foreseeable future.

"I would say that they want to buy. They spent during the offseason on [Jung Hoo] Lee in centerfield, who is now out, [Matt] Chapman and [Blake] Snell. They have ogot Snell coming back. They will have [Robbie] Ray and [Alex] Cobb coming back," he said.

The San Francisco Giants are currently in third place in the National League West with a 44-46 record and lie just three games behind in the wild card race.