BREAKING: Blue Jays acquire all-star third baseman Matt Chapman

DUNEDIN — The Blue Jays status of serious contender went up a significant notch on Wednesday with the acquisition of Matt Chapman, one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball.

In fact, the three-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Oakland Athletics may give Toronto one of the strongest infields in MLB.

Heading to Oakland in return is a solid group of prospects including right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hogland, shortstop Kevin Smith, lefty starter Zach Logue, and lefty reliever Kirby Snead.

On Tuesday, Jays general manager Ross Atkins vowed that the team would be adding an infielder prior to the season and now he has done so with yet another big splash.

The 28-year-old Chapman is one of the better defenders at the hot corner and gives the Jays a reliable defender at the critical position for the first time since Josh Donaldson left the team in 2018.

The Jays had been linked to free agent first baseman Freddie Freeman but the greater need was always at third. Acquiring Chapman allows Vlad Guerrero Jr. to remain at first base and with Bo Bichette at short stop. Second can now be a platoon situation with Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal.

Chapman’s even more attractive to the Jays given his salary situation. He is under club control for the next two seasons.

The Jays have certainly done well with acquisitions from the A’s in the past — Marcus Semien last year and Donaldson prior to the 2015 season.

Chapman is well regarded around the league, as one Jays player told the Toronto Sun on Wednesday.

“You can tell from talking to him when he’s on base,” the Jays player said of the all-star. “And Marcus Semien spoke very highly of him.”

rlongley@postmedia.com