The resurrected, red-hot Matt Chapman currently stands as the top free-agent-to-be among position players, and the Mets and Yankees are two likely fits. 

Chapman is back on his game two years after hip surgery, and he leads the AL with 23 hits, a .489 batting average and 1.2 offensive WAR (another well-known 2023-24 free agent, Shohei Ohtani, leads in overall WAR at 1.6).

The Cubs, Giants Dodgers and incumbent Blue Jays round out the list of most logical landing spots for Chapman, known as one of the best fielding third basemen in MLB. 

The Yankees make obvious sense as Josh Donaldson’s deal (and presumably tenure) are up after 2023, though they aren’t as needy as some. The versatile DJ LeMahieu will still be under contract. 

Across town, Eduardo Escobar is in the same boat as Donaldson — an aging player with an expiring contract. Highly ranked prospect Brett Baty remains the likely heir apparent and a promotion candidate — he has a 1.195 OPS at Triple-A Syracuse — but the position is a question.

The Mets made an agreement with Carlos Correa to play third base over the winter before that deal was canceled following the physical, so third base probably shouldn’t quite be considered settled long term. 

With Ian Happ joining Manny Machado as signed players off the board, the next best position-player free agents look like Teoscar Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, Harrison Bader, Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Rhys Hoskins, Cody Bellinger, Whit Merrifield and Amed Rosario — depending on opt-outs, injuries and performance.

The great Ohtani is arguably the best hitter and pitcher, though a terrific pitching market is stacked and led also by stars Julio Urias, Aaron Nola and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.