Blue Jays and Matt Chapman agree on a two-year deal

According to EPSN’s Jeff Passan the Toronto Blue Jays and newly acquired third basemen Matt Chapman have agreed on a two-year deal worth $25 Million.

Jon Heyman reported that the deal comes with a $1 Million signing bonus and then he will earn $12 Million in each of 2022 and 2023.

Much has been covered on Chapman over the last week after the Blue Jays acquired the soon to be 29-year old from the Oakland Athletics.  The contract for the three-time Gold Glove Award winner takes care of his final two years of arbitration before he hits free agency.  The deal also comes just days after Ken Rosenthal broke news that Chapman had turned down a 10-year extension worth $150 Million from the Oakland Athletics during the 2020 season.

Several MLB Insiders reported that the Blue Jays and Matt Chapman have agreed on a two-year deal that buy up his last seasons of arbitration

In 2021, the Blue Jays had six different players start at least eight games at third base and none of them come close to the level of defensive ability that Chapman has at the hot corner.  With Chapman at third base, Bo Bichette should see his defence improve, as well as give pitchers and easier chance of going deeper into games.

Chapman had got into one Spring Training game prior to signing the deal where he had three plate appearances and he collected a two-run home run, along with a walk.  Chapman will make his first lineup appearance with Vladimir Guerrero Jr on Tuesday afternoon.  He was penciled into the fifth spot in the lineup, hitting behind Lourdes Gurriel Jr and in front of Cavan Biggio.

http://twitter.com/goodhomeruns/status/1505613028619919365

The deal also comes one day after Ross Stripling signed one-year deal just shy of $3.8 Million, while the club still has a few other players to get signed, including Teoscar Hernandez and  Guerrero Jr.

Some may worry that the club gave up a lot of prospects for two years of Chapman, however, he is now free to play with cost certainty and there is nothing saying the club can’t start working on an extension next season.  The next two seasons the Blue Jays will be considered as one of the elite teams and World Series contenders; sit back, relax and enjoy.

I don’t believe there is any downside to this contract, but what are your thoughts on the deal?  Did the Blue Jays make the right decision on the two-year deal or should they have just gone with one-year at this point?