Everyone knew this day was coming, Matt Chapman included.
On Wednesday, the A's traded the star third baseman to the Toronto Blue Jays for four prospects. The trade happened days after the A's traded star first baseman Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves and right-hander Chris Bassitt to the New York Mets.
Chapman, 28, was drafted by the A's in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. But he knew the thought of him spending his career in Oakland was unlikely.
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SIGN UP HERE "I just don’t think it was realistic," Chapman said Wednesday, via The San Francisco Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. "A lot of guys love where they’re playing, and I was happy here. I was comfortable here. But I want to be a part of winning, and I want to be a part of a long-term goal and World Series. Where I'm heading has that, so that's where I am excited to be."
While Chapman is looking forward to joining a Blue Jays team that will be among the favorites in the American League, the All-Star third baseman was thankful for his time in Oakland.
"It's emotional," Chapman said via Kawahara. "I'm going to leave an organization that gave me the opportunity, that believed in me, that I met a lot of my best friends at, and I have so many great memories. It's sad to leave but happy to go somewhere where it's going to be an incredible opportunity."
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In exchange for Chapman, the A's received right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hoglund, infielder Kevin Smith and left-handed pitchers Zach Logue and Kirby Snead.
Chapman is a three-time Gold Glove winner and a career .243 hitter who has seen his batting average drop every season since he hit .278 in 2018. Last season, Chapman hit just .210 with 27 home runs and 72 RBI.
After spending his entire career in the Bay, Chapman gets a fresh start in Toronto, and the A's get four pieces to help bolster their rebuilding efforts.