NY Mets: 3 third base trade candidates to consider, 2 to avoid this winter

Matt Chapman would give the Mets power and Gold Glove defense at third base

Last year, Mets fans got themselves eager for a trade with the Oakland Athletics to bring Matt Chapman to Queens. A Gold Glove winner with nice power, he is a nice mix of two things you like out of a third baseman.

This most recent year might have a few souring on the idea. Chapman struck out 202 times and saw his batting average dip to a career-low .210. Even with another 27 home runs and 72 RBI, we should be a little frightened by the 15 doubles. His .403 slugging percentage was more than 100 points lower than anything he posted in the last three seasons when he became a full-timer for Oakland.

Chapman is in a similar situation as Ramirez. If you thought Cleveland watched their payroll like hawks, let me introduce you to the Athletics. They invented paying players as little as possible and milking the most out of them. Chapman, who is arbitration-eligible for another two years, is set to start making a good chunk of change in the coming year. Is it enough to force the Athletics to trade him?

At the right price, I do think Oakland would trade Chapman. The trouble is I’m not so sure he’s worth it. The Mets could end up with the .249/.342/.506 hitter with 36 home runs and 91 RBI he was back in 2019 when he won a Gold Glove. Or they could end up with much less.

With Machado and Ramirez, it’s more of a sure thing. In Chapman’s case, you don’t want to end up getting a guy who can defend well, occasionally hit a home run, and not offer much else.

File him in the “worth a phone call” directory anyway.