The Red Sox have struck a deal to acquire fleet-footed outfielder Rajai Davis from the Athletics, the teams announced on Tuesday night. Minor league outfielder Rafael Rincones is going back to the A’s in exchange, and Boston has designated first baseman/outfielder Steve Selsky to clear a 40-man roster spot. Davis had previously ranked eighth on MLBTR’s most recent list of the top August trade candidates.
The 36-year-old Davis had a slow first half to the season but has been on fire since the All-Star break, hitting .303/.361/.487 with three homers and 11 steals (in 13 attempts). Overall, he’s stolen 26 bases in 32 attempts. Davis will give Boston a huge boost in terms of speed in the season’s final month as well as in the postseason — both times when clubs are more likely to carry pinch-running specialists.
Of course, Davis’ second-half production and his respectable .255/.319/.396 slash against left-handed pitching illustrate that he brings far more to the table than just his wheels. He’ll also give the Sox a veteran outfield option capable of playing all three spots while Jackie Bradley sits out for the next week-plus due to a sprained thumb.
Davis brings to the Red Sox a history of speed and performing well against left-handed pitching. The veteran outfielder has five seasons of 40-plus steals under his belt, including a 43-steal campaign in 2016 that paced the American League. He’s also a career .285/.341/.434 hitter when holding the platoon advantage; His most memorable hit against a lefty provided one of the most dramatic moments in recent postseason history, when he took Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman deep in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
Davis signed a one-year deal worth $6MM to return to Oakland for his second stint with the A’s this past offseason, and he’s still owed the balance of that salary — a sum of approximately $1.28MM.
Rincones turned 18 on July 1 and has spent the first two seasons of his professional career playing for the Red Sox’ affiliate in the Dominican Summer League. Through 380 plate appearances, the switch-hitting Rincones has batted .267/.386/.368 with a pair of homers, 18 doubles, four triples and 14 steals (in 19 attempts).
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had both previously reported that the Red Sox were nearing a trade or waiver claim, and Rosenthal added that Selsky had been designated for assignment. CSN New England’s Evan Drellich first reported that Davis was going to Boston (on Twitter). Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted that it was a trade, not a waiver claim, and she was also the first to report that the A’s were acquiring Rincones (Twitter link).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Why?
Because he is fast. See Roberts, Dave.
Speed
JBJ injury, and I think after the Holt CS that night they realized they might want a speed weapon off the bench in the playoffs(not that one play should shape too much decision making)
Pinch runner
yes, the obvious speed with an occasional pop. Like said above, Roberts…or Crisp
Coco will be missed, but with his existing neck issues, he’s done.
His regimen for dealing with nerve impingment/compression last year was “pop three muscle relaxers, and once they take effect chug red bull until not sleepy anymore”.
Where did you come up with that?…lol
He admitted it in an interview last year before he was traded to the Indians.
Remember how he said the problem could be fixed surgically, but his career would be over? He’s talking about cervical fusion. His neck is in bad shape.
Smart.
I’m a little surprised that someone lower in the standings didn’t place a claim on Davis in order to block the Sox.
He probably already went through waivers.
There’s no probably about it…..
I think he meant that he went through waivers before boston had the injury, so the other teams wouldn’t have even known they were blocking them.
Mmmm!! But Boston need relievers not outfielders
Carlson Smith is almost ready!!! He gets the 6 , kelly the 7 and Reed the 8!! Go Sox Go
They don’t need more relievers, they need a manager who knows how to use them…
true, John Farrell makes me wanna rip my hair out sometimes with his bullpen decisions
Exactly! If Farrell ever uses Barnes again in the 8th in a hold situation I will lose my mind. How many times do we have to watch him walk the lead off guy and then give up the lead?
You think Chapman was having nightmares about facing the Sox before? He’ll never sleep again this season now.
He will haunt the indians in the playoffs. They didn’t offer him a contract after his heroic playoffs for them. Pay back time.
.278/.278/.444. The hits are 4 singles and a solo shot in a 5-0 game. Meanwhile his 1 other run and one other RBI similarly didn’t adjust the outcome of the game
So hasn’t really been haunting Cle so far, and if anything he has been a boost to the Indians this year – he has been destroying both Minnesota and KC with the bat
Don’t think you know or understand a guy like Chapman or what is makeup is..
Regardless of his recent lack of success, don’t think he’s afraid of anyone or any team.
When he’s on, the Red Sox offer no more of a challenge than Houston, Cleveland, or any team that has patient hitters, and that can hit a fastball. This year, everyone is laying off the slider, and waiting for the fastball.
Of course, Boston is one of those teams in the above group also but I say again, he’s not the kind of guy that is going to be intimidated by any lineup or player regardless of their success or lack of against him.
That’s what a “closers mentality” is all about.
For the most part I agree with you, Chapman has historically had the real “closer mentality,” But every now and then even those with the strongest mind set can get rattled. I think having a few rough outings caused that as he looked lost the last time he pitched to the Sox. That said it could have been any team or several teams together. The guy just needs to relax.
Nice!!
Good vet leadership for the kids too
Any move that results in getting Brock Holt out of the lineup is OK with me
Not a Red Sox fan, but good move.
You think they could get the A’s manager too?
As a Sox fan, I approve this message
As an Indians fan, it’s gonna be tough having to root against Rajai in the playoffs…he’ll always be loved in Cleveland for Game 7 last year
For prolonging the same outcome of the Indians losing? What’s the difference.
Yeah that HR was huge, but he needed it to make up for his poor defense earlier on.
Return seems a little light for Oakland?
He was signed for a single year. His purpose was “someone who won’t totally suck and has some speed, while we try to trade for a good outfield prospect or two”.
Fowler & Mateo were part the price for Sonny Gray, so that’s two contenders for next years’ starting centerfielder, and we have Austin Beck and Lazarito who should be ready by ’21.
Rajai leaving now fits with giving young guys playing time, and that we got back someone who might be part of a second or third wave of outfielders (if he pans out) is gravy. We’d probably have taken an “intriguing” lefty arm in low-A if it came down to it.
Two players one coming off a serious knee injury and the other who’s barely played CF and isn’t ready. Late next year if their lucky…
Hes a 4th outfielder. The A’s need young outfielders for the system.
He’s 17 years old! It’s a bit early to call him much of anything yet.
Counting the days till Hanley’s contract is up
Can you count that high?
Is it one or two more years?
2018 plus a vesting option for 2019 if Hanley has 1050 total PA’s between 2017 & 2018; and passes a physical.
4 years $88 mil as I recall. This is year 3
Hopefully the A’s call upon Coco Crisp to fill Rajis’ spot.
I’ve been a fan of Rajai’s and thought Fenway would be a fine field for him.
Nice pick-up for the stretch.
Good trade for both sides. Davis was born and raised in the northeast, so he’s going “home” in a way.
Athletics used to have Rincones father Ricardo pitch for them as well, so nice having another father/son combination.
Anyone else think this jbj injury might be serious..?
Anything is possible but the move makes sense even if JBJ didn’t get hurt..
No. There is no fracture and no ligament damage. This time of year is when you start to get your post season roster ready and the Red Sox really needed a guy with speed to come in and pinch run in a crucial spot. Might as well pick him up now and have him to help out filling in for JBJ.
I m happy with that trade they need speed for pitch run nice one
Billy Beane loves players named Rincone
Beane loves dumping 1.6MM in salary more.
another ex bucco still employed!
Nice indeed and hey why not?
Cool move by both teams.
Postseason move.
I feel like every player goes to the A’s to get traded to a contender – Goals.