2024 MLB News and Notes #2

[westofyou]

Brandon Drury OPS is at .483, a .360 drop from last season, he gets 8.5 M this year, he might be out of the game next

For players with at least one hundred PAs five of the worst OPS's are catchers, Martin Maldonado has a .403 OPS, Curt Casali .483

[cumberlandreds]

The earth stood still last night. The White Sox won 8-1 against the Orioles. 32 wins and counting. Does this constitute a winning streak for them?

[Ron Madden]

Giants Extend Matt Chapman

The Giants made a major splash overnight, announcing that they’ve extended the contract of third baseman Matt Chapman. The deal guarantees Chapman $151MM over six years and runs from 2025 to 2030, with a $25MM annual salary and a $1MM signing bonus paid out in 2025. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Chapman’s deal contains a no-trade clause.

Chapman, 31, signed with the Giants on a three-year deal worth $54MM with opt outs after each season over the offseason when his market didn’t develop to expected levels last winter. In the months since then, it’s become apparent that the first of those opt-out opportunities would be exercised as the infielder has largely quelled his doubters with his best season in half a decade. His first season in a Giants uniform has seen him post a strong .247/.343/.445 slash line, good for a 118 wRC+, in 136 games. In addition to a strong season at the plate, he’s also put together his most impressive defensive season in years with +7 OAA and +13 DRS, his best showing in either metric since 2021.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/...t-chapman.html

[TRF]

A .788 OPS now gets you $151M?

It's too late for me, but I have 5 grandsons...

[CySeymour]

A .788 OPS now gets you $151M?

It's too late for me, but I have 5 grandsons...

I was a bit surprised by the length and value of the contract. Chapman's calling card is defense, so I wonder if the Giants are going to end up paying for a lot of subpar offensive season for a player who is already on the wrong side of 30. But, to be fair, Chapman has been pretty steady offensively, so he could end up being league average and above for the majority of the deal.

[mth123]

A .788 OPS now gets you $151M?

It's too late for me, but I have 5 grandsons...

Only Jose Ramirez has a higher WAR among 3B. There are only 18 guys who qualify as primary 3B and only 16 guys who have a positive WAR.
He's a year older than Alex Bregman (5th in 3B WAR this year). This should be a pretty good estimate of what it may take to sign Bregman. Chapman is a better bat, a better defender and a better baserunner. I think the Reds need an outfielder more than a 3B, but if the Reds signed Bregman to the same deal, I'd be thrilled.

[westofyou]

A .788 OPS now gets you $151M?

It's too late for me, but I have 5 grandsons...

Yes, because he's playing gold glove defense in a pitchers era in a pitchers park. Additionally he runs the bases well, has great baseball acumen and the team he plays for doesn't have an entrenched veteran in a market that can afford a couple

[RedTeamGo!]

He has 6.0 bWAR this year and a 121 OPS+

Frankly, that is a bit of a steal.

[LeatherPants]

He has 6.0 bWAR this year and a 121 OPS+

Frankly, that is a bit of a steal.

Yep, that OPS is equivalent to what Elly is doing at GAB

[mth123]

Yep, that OPS is equivalent to what Elly is doing at GAB

Yeah, it's hard for us old farts to remember it's not the 1990s anymore when an OPS in the high 700s was basically league average (not that we even knew what OPS was at the time).

[TRF]

Yep, that OPS is equivalent to what Elly is doing at GAB

Elly is 22, not 31. My point, and it's minor is that with age most skills decline. Eye at the plate is probably the skill that lasts the longest and he's not great there, merely ok-ish. His best trait is his glove, but that 1st step can go quick.

I'm asking, because I do not know, when was the last time a glove first position player with an average bat got 5/150 after age 30?

[westofyou]

Elly is 22, not 31. My point, and it's minor is that with age most skills decline. Eye at the plate is probably the skill that lasts the longest and he's not great there, merely ok-ish. His best trait is his glove, but that 1st step can go quick.

I'm asking, because I do not know, when was the last time a glove first position player with an average bat got 5/150 after age 30?

Career 118 OPS plus is 18% above average though

[mgbrown66]

Interesting. Maddux called his own pitches: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LKKxsCyQKqA

I could listen to Greg Maddux talk about pitching until I expire.

[LeatherPants]

Elly is 22, not 31. My point, and it's minor is that with age most skills decline. Eye at the plate is probably the skill that lasts the longest and he's not great there, merely ok-ish. His best trait is his glove, but that 1st step can go quick.

I'm asking, because I do not know, when was the last time a glove first position player with an average bat got 5/150 after age 30?

Except he doesn't have an "average bat", he's 20% better than the league


Edit to add: Think you misunderstood when I mentioned Elly. Just saying that Chapman's 763 OPS in SF is the equivalent to Elly's 828 OPS in Great American Ballpark.

Age has nothing to do with it, the difference is the ballpark. A 763 OPS in SF is better than a 763 OPS at GAB.

[TRF]

Except he doesn't have an "average bat", he's 20% better than the league

Ok, but it's a career .789 OPS, and he's under that for this season. Mostly elevated by his age 25-27 seasons. And he's 31. While I'm reasonably sure his bat is fine this year, the glove too, that's a bag for a guy that will be 32 for almost all of next season.

Nolan Arenado's age 32 season saw his OPS drop 120 points from age 31 and he's looking washed now in age 33. 3B can take a toll on the body. Chapman is nowhere near the talent of Arenado, at the plate or on the field. One does not equal the other in the sense that this guy dropped so that guy will too, but it should be a cautionary tale at the very least.

That's all I am saying. It's a lot of money and years for a contract that starts in his age 32 season.