5 best Mets options at third base for next season ranked

4) Matt Chapman

The best third baseman available this offseason in free agency by a landslide is Matt Chapman. The 30-year-old is known mostly for his power bat and elite defense at third base. The Mets could definitely use both, but his negatives might outweigh the positives.

First, the strikeouts are a bit out of control. He struck out 165 times in 140 games this past season with Toronto. That might seem like a lot, but it was actually the fewest strikeouts he's had in a 162-game season since 2019. Second, he might hit for power, but that's just about all of the hitting he does. Chapman hit .240 in 2023 which was his highest mark since 2019. The Mets adding an all-or-nothing hitter might not be in their best interest.

Third, the fact that he's the best third baseman available by far means he's going to earn a lot of money in free agency. That's good for him, but the Mets don't need to be tying up a ton of money in a player like Chapman when they haven't even given some of their top prospects a full season at the position yet.

Lastly, since Chapman was given the Qualifying Offer, the Mets would have to give up a draft pick to sign him. This has gone against everything Steve Cohen has wanted since he purchased the team.

There are very clear positives with Chapman. He can hit 30+ home runs, drive in 90+ runs, and win a Gold Glove defensively. However, the negatives could very easily outweigh the positives. He'd be an upgrade for now, but who knows how he'll age and who knows how impactful he'd actually be.