JAYS ACQUIRE CHAPMAN FROM OAKLAND

MLB / Baseball

Written by Gus Cousins

Earlier this morning, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Platinum Glove-winning third baseman, Matt Chapman, from the Oakland A’s in exchange for a smattering of prospects - a concept that A’s fans are all too familiar with. Ask any Oakland fan to reminisce about the return for Josh Donaldson, and the conversation will likely take a turn for the worse. But is this Josh Donaldson all over again? Let’s take a look and see.

Matt Chapman | Source (Background photo): AP

Firstly, the big man: Matt Chapman, the three-time Gold Glover, Two-time Platinum Glover, and 2019 All-Star. Before anyone begins to criticize his offensive output last year, yes, he had a down year. Although smashing 27 HRs (second-best in his career) and 72 RBIs (also second-best in his career), Chapman slashed only .210/.314/.403 marking his worst average and a slugging percentage of his MLB career. Playing while being a little banged up likely had something to do with his offensive decline, but his defence remained consistently outstanding - proven when he ended up winning his third Gold Glove in five years. Chapman will slot in as the everyday third baseman, bumping Santiago Espinal over to a platoon role with Cavan Biggio at second. If Chapman returns to his good ol’ Chappie self and begins to get on base a lot, fantastic, but his defence - along with his ability to knock it outta the park - is the reason to be excited.

Matt Chapman | Source (Background photo): MLB

As it stands, Toronto currently has an infield of Chapman-Bichette-Biggio/Espinal-Guerrero, with Otto Lopez, Greg Bird, and Gosuke Katoh waiting in the wings. The last time the Jays got a 3B from Oakland it turned out pretty good, and I expect this Chapman deal to be as well.

Gunnar Hoglund pitches for Ole Miss, prior to being drafted by Toronto

On the flip side of the deal, you have the Oakland A’s. A team that’s been relatively successful the last number of years, but evidently has chosen to cut bait on many of their top players. Bassitt to the Mets, Olson to the Braves, Chapman to Toronto, with more moves likely on the way with regards to pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Stockpiling prospects is something Oakland fans should be used to by now, although there is good reason to believe that the return for Chapman will far outperform the return for a certain other ex-Athletics third baseman.

Pitchers Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Logue, Kirby Snead, along infielder Kevin Smith is the return, an interesting array of pieces. Hoglund is the main highlight of the package; a six-four, two-twenty, right-hander who was terrific in three seasons with Ole Miss. Here’s the catch - Hoglund has not thrown one pitch in professional baseball. The twenty-two-year-old was drafted in the first round by the Jays in 2o21 and is only now returning after Tommy John's Surgery. That said, he has the potential to be a very good starter in my opinion even if it’s a number of years down the road. Hoglund was Toronto’s #1 pitching prospect and #4 prospect overall, a sign that Oakland’s getting a very quality arm.

Infielder Kevin Smith is the closest one to being MLB-ready, and will likely secure himself a spot on an opening day Athletics’ roster. An unfortunate casualty of having too many good infielders, Smith was on his way out in one deal or another - that said, he’s certainly earned the right to play in the Majors. Smith played very well for AAA Buffalo last year, and although he didn’t perform in the few games with the big club he certainly deserves a fair shot - something Toronto was unable to give him. With Olson and Chappy gone, Smith should get plenty of looks alongside the likes of Elvis Andrus (until he’s traded), Vimael Machin, Chad Pinder, and fan-favourite Tony Kemp.

Hoglund isn’t the only arm heading to Oakland, as lefties Zach Logue and Kirby Snead will make the trek out west too. Snead is a good AAA reliever, and I expect (and hope!) him to be on the A’s roster at some point. Amidst a bullpen that’s seen the departure of Jake Diekman - a very good lefty - to the Boston Red Sox, Snead should have a decent shot at getting some major league innings on a consistent basis. On the starting side, Zach Logue has the makings to be a really, really good middle-of-the-rotation lefty. In fact, I believe that Logue has the chance to be the best part of his whole deal for the A’s - he’s succeeded at every level he’s been at in the minors, and without a doubt is going to make his MLB debut this season. In his first start with the Bisons last year, Logue chucked seven innings of one-hitter against the Rochester Red Wings - a team who had Carter Kieboom, Yadiel Hernandez, and Gerardo Parra start for them that day, all of whom played in the Majors and all of whom struck out at least once against Logue. He ended his 2021 season with an impressive 9-3 record, 3.32 ERA and 93 strikeouts in just over 89 innings of work for the Bisons, and was on Toronto’s 40-man roster prior to the trade.

All in all, I really don’t see this as an incredibly one-sided deal. Certainly not to the level of when Josh Donaldson was dealt, in which Brett Lawrie, Franklin Barreto, Sean Nolin, and Kendall Graveman were sent to the A’s. Do I think Toronto won the deal? Yes, absolutely. But will it end up being more even than people think? For the sake of Athletics fans and their sanity, I sure hope it is.