Matt Chapman gets a raise and A’s sign remaining arbitration eligible players

It wasn’t an extension, but the A’s star third baseman got a significant raise in his first year of arbitration. Matt Chapman, the A’s Platinum Glove third baseman, signed a one-year deal worth $6.49 million.

Despite a tumultuous year and slow off season with few moves thus far, the A’s managed to avoid arbitration with all their eligible players. Chad Pinder, Tony Kemp, Matt Olson and Burch Smith agreed to terms in December almost immediately after being tendered contracts.

“It’s always nice to clear the books and don’t have any cases to muddy the waters for the spring, so it was great to get them all done,” A’s assistant GM Dan Feinstein said in a call with reporters.

Chapman joins the five other A’s players who signed one year deals on Friday’s deadline to avoid arbitration. Among them, outfielder Mark Canha, in his final year of arbitration, signed for $6.925 million deal. Canha has emerged as one of the A’s best hitters, batting .265 with a .846 OPS over the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Left-handed starter Sean Manaea signed for $5.95 million in his third year of arbitration eligibility. Manaea struggled in the truncated 2020 season, posting a 4.50 ERA that he couldn’t knock down in the 60-game span. But he earned a nice raise, up from the $3.75 million he earned in his second year of arbitration.

After a career year in 2020, right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt will earn $4.9 million in his second year of arbitration. The A’s could be getting a bargain with Frankie Montas, who signed for $1.8 million in his first year of arbitration. Montas struggled with injuries in 2020 and couldn’t quite take off, but has potential to be one of the A’s most dominant starters.

Lou Trivino, who is on the table to close or pitch in some high-leverage situations for the A’s next year, signed for $912,500.