According to reports, the Oakland A’s are planning to attempt to replace Matt Chapman with Jake Lamb.
It is safe to say that Matt Chapman is irreplaceable in the Oakland A’s lineup. He has emerged as one of the A’s more dependable power bats and has established himself as the best defensive third baseman in baseball. However, he is now lost for the season, requiring surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.
The A’s quest to replace Chapman will not be easy, but they have a possible option in mind. According to reports, the A’s will be signing Jake Lamb on Monday.
I've heard from multiple sources that the A's are signing former Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Jake Lamb.
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) September 13, 2020
The signing will be delayed so that the A’s do not take on the rest of the contract. It is also worth noting that the signing will happen before Tuesday’s deadline to make Lamb available to be part of their playoff roster.
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An All Star in 2017, Lamb has struggled to replicate that form since. Injuries to his shoulder took a toll on his effectiveness afterwards, and Lamb has not been able to return to that form. He has posted a .199/.307/.330 batting line since the start of 2018, hitting just 12 homers and 17 doubles in his 514 plate appearances.
Those shoulder woes also impacted Lamb defensively. He had moved to first base this season, seeing just 16 innings at third base before he was designated for assignment. It should not be a surprise that Lamb has not fared well defensively either, having cost the Diamondbacks four runs over the past three years.
Nonetheless, this is the type of move that the A’s need to make. If Lamb can somehow be right, he would provide a solid power bat in the lineup. If he is not, the A’s can easily move on without much of a cost.
The Oakland A’s are reportedly set to add Jake Lamb to the roster. While he will not be able to replace Matt Chapman, he can provide some depth at the corner infield spots.