Matt Chapman recorded 290 assists at third base in his first season with the San Francisco Giants. He nearly recorded another one during the offseason, too.

The Giants’ main goal of the winter was to acquire a shortstop, one of the main targets being free agent Ha-Seong Kim. Due to a shoulder injury, Kim wouldn’t have been ready for Opening Day, but Chapman didn’t want that to be an impediment to signing the former San Diego Padres infielder. So, Chapman told the front office he’d be willing to play shortstop in the interim if they signed Kim.

The move would have been no small concession. Chapman has made his career at third base. He’s won five Gold Gloves — and counting — at the position. A switch to shortstop, even temporarily, would’ve likely impeded his run for a sixth in 2025. To Chapman, winning games came first.

“He wants to win, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to do that,” said Giants hitting coach Pat Burrell, citing Alex Rodriguez’s move to third base to play alongside shortstop Derek Jeter when he joined the Yankees in 2004 as a rare example of a star switching positions for the benefit of the team. “It’s not uncommon, but it takes special guys to feel confident enough with where they’re at in their career to make changes.”

In the end, the Giants signed Willy Adames to be the team’s shortstop for this season and beyond. Chapman’s willingness to play out of position, though, exemplified the leadership role he’s already assumed in San Francisco. Last spring, Chapman wasn’t in any position to exert his influence.

When spring training opened last season, Chapman was still a free agent. It wasn’t until March 3, 2024, that Chapman signed a one-year, $18 million deal with options baked in — far from the long-term, nine-figure deal he was expected to sign when the offseason began. Chapman could’ve easily opted to play the free agency game for a second consecutive offseason, especially as his Giants debut turned into his best overall season since his days in Oakland from 2017-21.

Chapman, though, wanted to plant his flag.

In mid-August, the 31-year-old Chapman expressed his openness to signing a long-term extension. Less than a month later, Chapman put pen to paper on a six-year, $151 million extension. At the time, it was the second-largest deal in franchise history behind Buster Posey’s $167 million, eight-year deal.

“Every player’s goal is to be able to know where you’re going to be and be somewhere that you want to be,” Chapman said. “For me, my experience here last year was amazing. I got to be able to experience what it was like to be a Giant.

“Having Bob Melvin as your manager is something I want to do forever. I love playing for BoMel. I love my teammates, and I think what they’re doing here is special. They’re going to continue to try to win, so that’s something I want to sign up for.”

The Giants have already seen substantial return on their investment. In his first season with the team, Chapman slugged 27 homers, stole a career-high 15 bases, posted a .790 OPS and won the fifth Gold Glove of his career. Chapman’s 5.5 WAR, according to FanGraphs, was his highest since he was an All-Star with the A’s in 2019.

Fans on the other side of the Bay envisioned Chapman and first baseman Matt Olson to be the foundation of the team well into this decade. Instead, they were both traded before the start of the 2022 season (part of a purge that also saw Melvin leave to manage the Padres) and signaled the end of the era and, ultimately, the end of the A’s in Oakland.