New York Notes: Davis, Hughes, Rivera

The Mets and Yankees have both benefited from trades this summer, with Alfonso Soriano's sizzling bat helping to propel the Yanks within two-and-a-half games of a Wild Card spot, and Marlon Byrd netting a pair of solid prospects for the Mets in Dilson Herrera and Vic Black. Here's more on New York's teams…

• Peter Gammons examines the curious career path of Ike Davis, noting that at different times throughout his career, he's shown the capability to be an elite defender, a walk machine and a legitimate 30-homer bat. However, as Gammons notes, he's never put those three together, and his first-half struggles in 2012-13 make it worth questioning whether he's worth the raise he's due on his $3MM salary via arbitration.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post also examines Davis' situation, noting that there's risk in trading Davis, as his current career numbers aren't that dissimilar from those of Chris Davis through his age-26 season (Chris had slightly better power numbers but played in more hitter-friendly settings). Sherman wonders if the Mets might consider swapping him for another buy-low candidate like Jeremy Hellickson and notes that teams like the Rays, Twins, Marlins and Brewers could all be intrigued by Davis.
• One rival talent evaluator recently spoke with Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger and seemed baffled by the fall of Baseball America's former No. 4 overall prospect, Phil Hughes (Twitter link). "You just wonder why he isn't better," said the scout, who called baseball a "brutal" industry.
• Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters, including Christian Red of the New York Daily News, that an ESPN report suggesting that he would lobby Mariano Rivera to pitch for another season was overblown. Rivera told Red and others that he is still certain that this season is his last, and Girardi added that he merely voiced his feelings that Rivera would still be capable of succeeding were he to return next year.