Potential Mets target J.D. Davis signing with Athletics: reports
J.D. Davis, who was a potential target for the Mets, is signing with the Oakland Athletics on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, according to multiple reports.
SNY's Andy Martino recently reported that the Mets were in talks with the free agent Davis -- who played for the Mets from 2019 to 2022 -- because his ability to play third base was a better fit for the team than J.D. Martinez, who would be just a DH.
The team did not want to box out Mark Vientos at DH this season. The Mets, and specifically President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, has said throughout the offseason that they want to give the organization's young players a chance.
However, Stearns told the media on Friday that if the team can add externally they will explore the possibility.
"I've also been consistent that that needs to happen over the course of the year," Stearns said regarding playing time for the younger players. "It may not need to happen exactly on Opening Day. It can, and we're still sorting through that."
With Davis off the board, the Mets can perhaps wait for Martinez's price to go down enough that they can't pass up or roll with Vientos and Brett Baty to start the season.
In 144 games last season for the San Francisco Giants, Davis slashed .248/.325/.413 with 18 homers, 23 doubles, and 69 RBI over 546 plate appearances.
During his seven-year career, Davis -- who does not have extreme righty/lefty splits -- has hit .261/.343/.432.
He was recently released by the Giants, whose signing of Matt Chapman made Davis' presence on the roster superfluous. And because of new CBA rules, Davis will no longer be getting the $6.9 million he was set to earn this season via arbitration from the Giants. Instead, he was given $1.1 million in termination pay.
