Feb. 19: Davis would earn $1.75MM upon making the big league roster and has an additional $3.25MM available to him via incentives, reports USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Twitter links). Davis can ask for his release on March 22 if he hasn’t been added to the Major League roster by that time.
Feb. 17, 1:32pm: The signing is official, Bastian tweets.
12:15pm: The Indians are set to sign outfielder Rajai Davis to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. The deal is pending a physical (Twitter links). Davis is repped by the Legacy Agency.
There’s already familiarity between Cleveland and the 37-year-old Davis, who was a member of the Indians during their American League-winning season in 2016. Davis authored one of the most memorable moments in World Series history that year when he hit a two-run, game-tying homer off then-Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of Game 7. Unfortunately for Davis and the Tribe, the Cubs went on to win the game.
While Davis is known for that HR, the righty-swinger hasn’t been a major offensive threat during his career. The lifetime .264/.313/.384 hitter is coming off a year in which he batted a meager .235/.293/.348 across 366 plate appearances between Oakland and Boston. As has typically been the case, though, the speedster provided value on the base paths, with 29 steals (giving him 394 for his career) to go with solid reviews from FanGraphs’ BsR metric. Davis was less successful in the field, on the other hand, as he earned subpar marks in Defensive Runs Saved (minus-1) and Ultimate Zone Rating (minus-3.4) during a 117-game season divided among center field – his primary position – and the two corner spots.
The Indians’ penciled-in starting outfield for 2017 consists of three left-handed hitters (center fielder Bradley Zimmer, left fielder Michael Brantley and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall), and righty Brandon Guyer is recovering from October wrist surgery. Davis could earn a spot with the Tribe as a platoon option, then, especially given his solid career line against southpaws (.284/.340/.432). However, he’ll face competition from fellow minor league signing and right-hander Melvin Upton Jr., among others.
I like this.
So do I.
His HR in Game 7 of the WS was epic!!!
It was the biggest emotional downturn that I ever witnessed in person.
Agreed. And you just had this feeling it was going to happen too. Wouldn’t change a thing though
After that I had the feeling that the worst player in Major League Baseball, Michael Martinez, was going to hit a game winning two run homer and win the World Series
He needed that HR to overshadow his previous costly play.
The HR was epic, but people seem to forget his defensive misplays were just as costly; and ironically he was in there because of Naquin’s misplays in Game 6.
“Rajai Davis made two poor plays during the top of the fourth inning of Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday that led to a big inning for the Chicago Cubs.
Davis, the Cleveland Indians’ center fielder, made the catch on a fly ball to shallow center for the second out of the top of the fourth. However, he hesitated on the throw home, allowing Kris Bryant to score on a tag-up. Davis’ throw was also too high and allowed Bryant to get under the tag at home. Additionally, since he threw all the way home on the play, a heads-up Ben Zobrist advanced to second.
The next batter was Willson Contreras, who doubled off the wall to center, driving in Zobrist to make it 3-1 Cubs.
Replays showed that not only was Davis playing shallow, but his first step was also in, so he got a bad jump on the ball and was unable to make a play on it.
The play likely would have been a tough one to make, but the bad first step by Davis made it impossible for him to have a chance at making a run-saving catch.”
Yeah and in the end, it was just another meaningless home run
I love this. Low risk signing with the potential to really impact the major league club. If Melvin Upton doesn’t make the team it’s safe to say Rajai will.
He can still be a decent bat vs lefties and his speed makes him really valuable in late inning situations off the bench.
Hard to believe Davis had to settle for a miLB deal. He’s still a capable MLB player, even as old as he is with speed and a fair enough fielder.
I really like this deal.
Glad to see him back with the Cleveland Indians. Davis played well with the Indians when he was in the team. Also, Francona likes having him in the team because he steals a lot of bases.
Hard to argue against having his type of baserunning ability off the bench/as part-timer. That a team could add that possibly eventually needed value without having to commit to a ML spot…
Well, good deal
The nostalgic side of me loves this deal; I’ll always have a soft spot for Rajai because of that game 7 homer, and he seemed like a great guy to have in the clubhouse.
The realistic side of me also likes it though; the Indians’ current outfield is far from a certainty, and there’s also a great chance of him making the team out of spring. He could be a solid part-time player and baserunning threat. Good deal.
“The Indians’ penciled-in starting outfield for 2017 consists of three left-handed hitters”
That was like, totally last year man.
I just don’t know how he will beat out Upton for a spot on the ML roster unless Brantley isn’t ever going to play again. Speaking of which, it would be nice to see Brantley healthy for a season. He’s like the Indians version of David Wright, every season brings new hope.
I would say Davis has a higher chance of making the team than Upton.
I’d be shocked if he doesn’t beat out Upton, honestly.
One of the most underrated players in baseball.
I like him better as a Tiger!
Is there a metric for giving pitchers fits while on base?
The amount of steam coming out of their ears
Would’ve rather the Pirates took a chance on Rajai on a minors deal than Nava..
BOOOOOOOO!!!
Ah! A g-g-ghost!!
Hopefully this means the end of Almonte.
Agreed, but Almonte will find a way to make the team…somehow. I bet the opening day outfield will be Kipnis, Zimmer, and Lonnie with Rajai and Almonte on the bench. I think Upton would have to vastly out play both Rajai and Almonte to make the Indians decide to pay him.
Almonte still has options.
PLEASE
I like this deal for the tribe. Davis strikes me as a player that does better, performs up to the gravity of the moment. Good signing, nice reunion.
Sorry Tribe, you screwed up badly letting Jackson walk. Now potentially giving up $5 mil/1yr for another has-been strikeout machine? (-to go along with Swish Upton).
The off-season has been a disaster for the Indians.. They better hope that they’re right about who they’re already counting on.
Go troll the bosox fans bro.
Yeah, we’ll be pouting about it…..all the way to our 3rd consecutive Central crown.
Somebody ought to explain to you incentives are earned, not wasted money, so if you produced you earned them and that $5 mil is well spent. Also, Upton or Davis will break camp with the Tribe, not both.
Jackson has the same contract plus a year, a higher base w/ ab incentives that add up to 5.5 per. The point is these outfield pickings they’ve aggregated are SLIM. You don’t seriously think I believe Davis will even make the team, do you? He’s merely an injury Plan B. My point was they LOST A SUPERIOR PLAYER and for what?
Yes! Show time!
Welcome back, Rajai! GO TRIBE!