Earlier this month, Giants fans and the organization celebrated as Matt Chapman inked a six-year, $151 million contract extension, securing him in San Francisco through the 2030 MLB season.
In an otherwise lackluster 2024 season for the Giants, locking down the Gold Glove third baseman ahead of his potential opt-out later this year was a crucial move for both the fan base and the team’s leadership, spearheaded by former catcher Buster Posey.
However, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, negotiations between Chapman and the Giants, which began in mid-August, reached a point where ownership felt compelled to step in due to frustrations with president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and Chapman’s agent, Scott Boras.
Posey took a direct role in structuring the contract, ensuring a full no-trade clause, which was missing from Zaidi’s initial offer, Baggarly reported. “Ownership saw re-signing Chapman as a no-brainer and didn’t trust Zaidi and Boras to close the deal,” Baggarly wrote.
This impatience was understandable given Boras’ history of hardball negotiations, often dragging talks with teams, including the Giants, as seen in his recent dealings for clients like Blake Snell. Despite these challenges, the Giants managed to secure both Chapman and Snell, though the team’s performance this season fell far short of expectations. Chapman, however, emerged as a leader with 24 home runs and a .777 OPS, earning Posey’s admiration.
“Signing Matt Chapman is huge for us,” Posey said in a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s George Kontos. “I was a big fan of his when I played against him, and after watching him this season, I’m even more impressed. He’s talented, works hard every day, and has the type of dedication you want on the field.”
While Posey’s involvement was prompted by ownership’s impatience, it also helped the Giants sidestep Boras’ strategy of framing San Francisco’s offer as a potential baseline for Chapman’s free agency, Baggarly reported. Zaidi, however, downplayed the situation, noting that ownership’s involvement was expected for such a significant deal.
In his interview with Kontos, Posey acknowledged the Giants’ recent struggles, stating, “No one’s happy with where we are.” But his hands-on approach reflects his commitment to restoring the franchise to its former glory.
