A sudden abdominal injury and looming MRI may derail the San Francisco Giants' deadline plans, leaving the struggling veteran’s future uncertain as his team's postseason hopes continue to fade.
The last thing that the San Francisco Giants wanted to see was Matt Chapman exit early as the team once again suffered a brutal loss.
This time around, it was an 8-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that is now 8-0 against them this season.
Knowing Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey and Co could've been sellers at the deadline, Chapman exiting early could have just plummeted his trade value, should the team have decided to trade him in the first place.
It seems like the Giants only have a few untouchables, but Chapman was on the trade block alongside Willy Adames and Rafael Devers.
Chapman to Undergo MRI
While he exited the game early on Tuesday, June 30, due to a lower abdominal strain, this is something that has been bothering the 33-year-old for quite some time.
"It's been something that we've been treating and trying to keep me on the field,” Chapman said, according to MLB.com. “These last couple of weeks probably, it's been really tight where I can only stretch it. I can’t really do anything [to loosen it].”
After being replaced in the bottom of the seventh, it became crystal clear this is an issue that needs to be resolved, and quickly at that.
At this point, no one knows the true degree of Chapman's injury. Whether or not it will keep him out for significant time will be determined by this MRI, one that will have a huge impact as to whether or not the Giants are able to trade him at the upcoming trade deadline.
First Willy Adames, Now Matt Chapman?
Adames, like Chapman, was on the trade block, but now both are dealing with issues that could keep them out of trade talks. No one wants to trade for struggling veterans who have a massive contract tying them down, especially now that both are dealing with injuries.
Chapman's abdominal strain came to life shortly after Adames has been dealing with lower back spasms. Even though the team said Adames was available off the bench, he was kept out of action as a precautionary measure.
Currently in the midst of his third season with the Giants, Chapman is slashing .235/.324/.368 with an OPS of .692, one that would be the lowest of his 10-year big league career. There's still a lot of season left, but the Giants are already 15 games below .500 and these injuries piling up could throw a wrench in their plans to be sellers.
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