A's trade Matt Chapman to Blue Jays in 5-player deal
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for four players, the Blue Jays announced Wednesday.
Infielder Kevin Smith and pitchers Gunnar Hoglund, Zach Logue, and Kirby Snead are headed to Oakland, a source told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.
Chapman said he was emotional but excited for the opportunity after learning of the trade Wednesday morning.
Matt Chapman gives his initial thoughts on being traded to Toronto: pic.twitter.com/1WDUIlP2qU
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) March 16, 2022
Chapman, a two-time Platinum Glove winner, is widely regarded as one of baseball's best defenders. The 28-year-old amassed 78 defensive runs saved and 49 outs above average in five big-league campaigns with the A's.
At the plate, he provides the Blue Jays with another powerful bat. The California native hit 27 home runs last season and has 111 career round-trippers.
Toronto gets club control over Chapman for two seasons, with the one-time All-Star projected to earn $9.5 million through salary arbitration.
Smith is the closest to major-league ready of the four players the A's acquired. The 25-year-old infielder made his big-league debut with Toronto last season, hitting .094/.194/.188 with one home run in 18 games. In the minors, the University of Maryland product slashed .285/.370/.561 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs in 94 games for Triple-A Buffalo.
The 22-year-old Hoglund was the Blue Jays' first-round draft choice in 2021. The Ole Miss right-hander was 10-5 with a 3.68 ERA and 10.9 K/9 in three seasons with the Rebels and has yet to appear in professional ball.
Logue, 25, was a ninth-round draft choice in 2017. The left-hander pitched well in the minors last season, authoring a 3.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 24 starts split between Toronto's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.
The 27-year-old Snead also made his big-league debut in 2021, appearing in seven games with the Blue Jays. He posted a 2.35 ERA and 2.52 FIP in 7 2/3 innings.
Wednesday's trade is the latest move by the A's, who previously dealt pitcher Chris Bassitt and first baseman Matt Olson to the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, respectively.
This also continues a busy offseason for the Blue Jays, who already signed left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and right-handers Kevin Gausman and Yimi Garcia to free-agent deals while giving fellow starter Jose Berrios a seven-year extension.