Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman is sympathetic to fans of the Oakland Athletics amid the club's uncertain future in the Bay Area.

"I feel bad for the loyal A's fans in Oakland," Chapman told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. "They lost the Raiders. They lost the Warriors to San Francisco. There are a lot of good Oakland fans that have been loyal through the years, through all the stuff they have to deal with. I feel bad for them."

Chapman spent the first five seasons of his career in Oakland before he was dealt to the Blue Jays ahead of the 2022 season.

The 30-year-old expressed skepticism about the relocation news – "I've heard them do that dance for every year I was there" – but said he is hopeful that if the Athletics have a new stadium, it might allow the club to be more competitive on the field and in terms of payroll commitments.

"I'm hoping that means they'll be able to start signing guys long term and not have to do the same kind of business structure they do now, where they just kind of turn over (the roster as it gets expensive)," Chapman said.