3 Blue Jays offseason decisions that already look bad in 2024

The Blue Jays failed to bring back Matt Chapman

With improving the team offense being one of the Jays’ key focus this offseason, they certainly made a huge mistake in letting stud third baseman Matt Chapman walk to free agency. Chapman eventually landed in San Francisco on a very friendly three-year, $54 M deal that included opt-outs in the first and second year. For that price and term, the Jays could have easily matched that offer. Given that Chapman also previously expressed interest in coming back to the club, the Jays really blew it.

Chapman may have had a down season in 2023 after cooling down following his hot start in April. But he has proven time and time again that he can be a big-time run producer, averaging close to 30 home runs and 80 RBI each season over a 162-game pace. On top of that, with his Gold Glove-calibre defense at the hot corner, he basically has the ability to positively affect the potential outcome of a game on both sides of the field.

So far this year with the Giants, Chapman has been off to a solid start, with 6 runs scored, a pair of home runs, and 7 RBI in 9 games played. The Jays easily could have used some of that reliable offensive run production during their recent series against Houston where they were completely dominated by the Astros’ pitching. To add insult to injury, Chapman has also flashed his defensive prowess by registering 2 DRS already along with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 76 innings in the field. This will be one failure of a move that the Jays will likely come to regret by the end of the season.