Matt Chapman
Matt Chapman's case is a curious one, as he was durable and remained an otherworldly defender at third base throughout this past season. The 30-year-old started off the year as one of the league's hottest hitters, but he came crashing back down to earth in a big way as the months rolled by.
In the end, Chapman did manage to finish 2023 with 39 doubles and an OPS+ of 108, which is nothing to scoff at. However, his best non-April performance came in July when he hit just .247 with four home runs. Other than that, he routinely failed to hit over .200 in a month and was practically a black hole in the Blue Jays' lineup.
This streakiness carried over into the Wild Card Series, as the third baseman went just 1-for-7 in a two-game sweep by the Twins. Really, he was damn near unplayable at certain parts of the season so it's understandable why many Blue Jays fans are ready for the club to move on.
Offensive struggles aside, Chapman is still likely to ask for (and receive) a hefty payday in free agency. There are many third base-hungry teams out there that would be more than willing to pay him strictly for his defensive chops, which certainly makes sense. With a group of exciting left-side-of-the-infield prospects in the system, the Blue Jays feel likelier to explore a cheaper option or promote from within for the 2024 season and beyond.