Scott Boras: Interest up for Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery - ESPN

SCOTTSDALE — Agent Scott Boras said Monday that, just in the past week, four new teams have inquired about free agent pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. The extent of the interest is unknown — as are the teams — but Boras said the calls for those players are beginning to pick up as the need for pitching increases.

«There is a pitching panic going on in baseball,» Boras stated. «We've got so many starting pitchers that are now compromised. Maybe short term. Some long term. And the calls for elite starters are starting to increase.

»With many clubs right now, because of the pitching issue, the competitiveness of their seasons is at risk."

Boras spoke at an introductory news conference for new San Francisco Giants third baseman, Matt Chapman. Chapman, 30, signed a three-year, $54 million contract over the weekend that includes opt-outs after each of the first two years. It's a deal similar to one another Boras client, Cody Bellinger, signed last week with the Chicago Cubs. His was also for three years and included two opt-outs. Both deals came together well after the beginning of spring training.

«Definitely a strange market this year, and the free agent process was a little abnormal,» Chapman said. «Our goals were either to get a long-term contract that we felt I was worth; if not, get the short-term contract with opt-outs and bet on myself.»

Chapman cited a sprained finger that might have impacted his offense last year while with the Toronto Blue Jays — and subsequently his market. His OPS+ of 108 was the second lowest of his career.

«It wasn't the strongest year in some people's eyes,» Chapman continued. «So I wanted to make sure if I was going to do something long term, I was going to get the value that I was