Blue Jays, Chapman reach deal through '23

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays have agreed to terms on a two-year, $25 million extension with newly acquired third baseman Matt Chapman, the club announced Tuesday, covering the 2022-23 seasons.

The deal will pay Chapman $12 million in each of the next two seasons with a $1 million signing bonus, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. This extension sets Chapman’s salaries for his remaining two years of team control, removing him from the arbitration process, and he remains on track to hit free agency following the 2023 season.

Chapman was projected to earn $9.85 million in arbitration this offseason, so this extension gives the Blue Jays some payroll certainty over the next 18 months. For a team looking to add further with a multiyear window of contention ahead of it, there’s value to that.

The Blue Jays also reached agreements with cornerstones Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar Hernández on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration with all 11 eligible players in total. With the Blue Jays spending aggressively this offseason following the additions of Chapman, Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, alongside the seven-year, $131 million extension for José Berríos in November, these arbitration figures will grow more important as its young core sees its salaries grow.

Chapman made one fine first impression in Sunday’s spring home opener at TD Ballpark, homering in his first game in a Blue Jays uniform. The 28-year-old believes an offensive rebound is in store after a down year at the plate in 2021, which to some extent has to be attributed to surgery Chapman underwent the offseason prior to repair his right hip labrum. Chapman feels his strength has returned, allowing him to better use his lower body in his swing, and there’s easily 30-plus home run power in his bat.

Toronto’s pitching staff has loved the move, given Chapman’s reputation as one of the best fielders in Major League Baseball regardless of position. Chapman owns three Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards, given annually to the best overall defender in each league, so the hot corner is in safe hands for the next two seasons.

It’s easy to see the early stages of Chapman’s broader impact on the Blue Jays’ organization, too. Pregame Sunday, No. 3 prospect Jordan Groshans was by Chapman’s side throughout warmups, having several conversations with the former All-Star about defense. Chapman joked that it’s already making him feel old at 28, but he added that he embraces the opportunity to work with the organization’s younger players. That has already been noticed and appreciated by members of the Blue Jays’ coaching staff as well.

Guerrero and Blue Jays settle at $7.9 million

This numbers here fall right in line with expectations for Guerrero, so while there’s nothing surprising, this does represent a significant -- and richly deserved -- raise for the young superstar in his first season of eligibility. Extension talk will continue to follow Guerrero, who is still under team control through the end of 2025, but the 23-year-old is trying to avoid that distraction.

“All I know is to hit fastballs and curveballs,” Guerrero said over the weekend. “The rest, I leave to my agent.”

Hernández to earn $10.65 million after second Silver Slugger Award

Hernández’s contract represents another jump after the slugger earned $4.32 million in his first year of arbitration. Hernández has emerged as a legitimate threat in the middle of Toronto’s order, hitting 32 home runs with 116 RBIs in 2021. With the potential to hit 40, Hernández is entering his two final seasons of team control before he’s due to hit free agency at the same time as Chapman.

Other agreements Tuesday:

• RHP Ross Stripling ($3.79 million)
• 2B Cavan Biggio ($2.1125 million)
• C Danny Jansen ($1.95 million)
• RHP Adam Cimber ($1.575 million)
• LHP Tim Mayza ($1.25 million)
• RHP Trevor Richards ($1 million)
• RHP Trent Thornton ($850,000)
• LHP Ryan Borucki ($825,000)