3. Matt Chapman
It wasn't long ago that Matt Chapman was touted as one of the best third basemen in the game. Even at the start of the offseason, Chapman was considered one of the top players available; however, as we're starting to find out, no one is willing to pay him what he thinks he deserves.
A hip injury could be a factor in Chapman's ongoing free agency, but it's not the only issue impacting teams' interest in him. Chapman's offensive metrics have taken a hit recently. From 2018 to 2020, his OPS didn't dip below .812. Since then, Chapman has failed to eclipse the .757 mark. But there's a contrasting look when we dig deeper into his analytics.
Listen to this. The former Toronto Blue Jay ranked in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, 98th percentile in barrel percentage, and 97th percentile in average exit velocity. Further, the third baseman has fallen below his expected slugging percentage in the past two seasons. Those MVP-caliber metrics will land Chapman somewhere on the MVP futures board.
Whether it was an environmental change or lousy luck, Chapman is better than his traditional stats suggest. Now, he needs to find someone who will pay him for it.
