Should the Yankees Trade for Matt Chapman?

MLB insider Mark Feinsand confirmed that the Giants are open to trading Willy Adames, Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman despite all of them being under long-term deals. Of the three, Chapman seems the most likely to be dealt, and Feinsand subsequently included him in a recent article of trade deadline candidates.

Three fits for Chapman were listed, and the Yankees were one of them. The other two were the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Why Matt Chapman is a Good Fit for the Yankees

Before last season's trade deadline, the Yankees looked to upgrade third base by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. Despite his inconsistent hitting, the Yankees were confident that his elite defense would make up for those offensive shortcomings.

Fast-forward to 2026 and McMahon has struggled in pinstripes. While he did have a productive stretch from late May to early June, the 31-year-old is hitting just .211/.272/.367 with a 30.6% strikeout rate and 78 wRC+. Meanwhile, his defense hasn't been as elite as the Yankees envisioned. Because of this, New York can certainly look for another third base upgrade.

Chapman would not only be an upgrade, he'd be an outright solution for the Yankees. The 33-year-old has been fairly productive at the plate, slashing .252/.337/.400 with 17 doubles, seven home runs and a 109 wRC+. While McMahon has often been lauded for his defense, Chapman is in argument with Nolan Arenado as the best fielding third baseman of his generation; that defensive wizardry is still present as he already boasts 13 defensive runs saved in 73 games.

However, while the Giants are open to moving Chapman, he may not be open to being traded as he has a full no-trade clause in his contract. Chapman is also owed $125 million on his contract (including this season), so San Francisco would prefer to see any trade suitors eat the majority of the money. That could prove tricky if a salary cup is put into play in the near future.

But if Chapman chooses to waive his no-trade clause, the Yankees would be an excellent suitor. They have the need for better play at third base, and while they already owe McMahon $32 million (including this year), the amount of revenue the Yankees bring is more than enough for them to take on Chapman's deal. Under contract until 2030, New York would have a true solution at third for the next several seasons thanks to Chapman's power at the plate and incredible glove at the hot corner.

The Yankees are pursuing their first World Series title since 2009, and this could be their best chance due to how weak the rest of the AL is. Making a blockbuster trade for Matt Chapman could be one of the final pieces to their puzzle.