Matt Chapman isn’t the next Josh Donaldson. The Jays don’t need him to be

By: Laura Armstrong - Staff Reporter, Toronto Star Posted: 9:19 PM CDT Wednesday, Apr. 6, 2022 Last Modified: 7:21 AM CDT Thursday, Apr. 7, 2022

Advertise with us

DUNEDIN, Fla.—The shopping list was always the same as the Blue Jays front office transitioned from a roster headlined by the likes of third baseman Josh Donaldson to the current young core.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

DUNEDIN, Fla.—The shopping list was always the same as the Blue Jays front office transitioned from a roster headlined by the likes of third baseman Josh Donaldson to the current young core.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/04/2022 (1639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DUNEDIN, Fla.—The shopping list was always the same as the Blue Jays front office transitioned from a roster headlined by the likes of third baseman Josh Donaldson to the current young core.

Pitching and defence. For years, that never seemed to change.

Since 2019, they have overhauled their pitching staff by bringing in Hyun-Jin Ryu, Robbie Ray, José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and more. But they have largely tried to improve their defence from within.

Steve Nesius - THE CANADIAN PRESS
Blue Jay Matt Chapman, a perennial Gold Glove candidate at third base, nabs Ender Inciarte of the Yankees on a stolen base attempt in Dunedin. — Steve Nesius - THE CANADIAN PRESS Blue Jay Matt Chapman, a perennial Gold Glove candidate at third base, nabs Ender Inciarte of the Yankees on a stolen base attempt in Dunedin.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moved from third base to first. Bo Bichette proved he has what it takes to be an everyday shortstop. Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. still take some strange routes in the outfield at times, but they have improved, too. And with a loaded batting order, it seemed like the Jays could outhit any defensive shortcomings that might remain.

In third baseman Matt Chapman, though, they acquired a proven defensive stalwart at the position where they needed it most.

“I think this year you’re going to see a more athletic, well-rounded version of myself,” Chapman — acquired from Oakland for four prospects, similar to the deal that made Donaldson a Blue Jay in 2014 — told reporters at his introductory press conference in mid-March.

Chapman also hopes to do more with the bat after hitting .210 last year, well below his .243 career average. He’s always had power (27 home runs in 2021, a career-high 36 in 2019) and is moving to a more hitter-friendly park at the Rogers Centre. He also walked 80 times last year, bumping his on-base percentage to a more respectable .314, and says he’s fully healed from surgery on his right labrum and femur in September 2020. A bounceback season at the plate isn’t out of the question.

But whatever Chapman does with the bat will be a bonus. It’s in the field that he has already made them better, according to manager Charlie Montoyo.

The three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Platinum Glove recipient (best defensive player in the league at any position) led all third basemen with 17 outs above average last year, fourth-best at any position in that key metric. Another important stat: Toronto pitching led the league in ground balls hit to third base last season. Hyun-Jin Ryu and Yusei Kikuchi in particular — ground-ball pitchers known to induce pull contact — will be more than happy to have Chapman backing them up at the hot corner.

“I did see how many ground balls this team gets to third base, so it definitely excites me,” Chapman said. “That’s something I take pride in, is saving runs for the team, and I really want to help these pitchers out. The pitchers like you when you make good plays for them.”

In the past, Jays pitchers also enjoyed having Donaldson — now with the New York Yankeees — on their side, but not so much for his glove. There are similarities: Both Chapman and Donaldson joined the Jays at age 28 and had been American League all-stars in Oakland. But Donaldson’s bat was his strength, and he was already earning MVP votes before he arrived. The Jays don’t need Chapman to be an MVP contender. They already have one in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

And unlike Donaldson — whose arrival elevated one of the most imposing lineups in baseball along with José Bautista, Edwin Encarnación, Jose Reyes and Russell Martin — Chapman joins a lineup that already has that distinction led by Guerrero, George Springer, Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernández.

On defence, though, his arrival also gives the Jays one of the most imposing infields in the game.

“I’ll leave the best in baseball to you guys,” Chapman said, “but I think it’s worth putting us in that conversation.”

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy