The Athletics are holding extension talks with slugger Khris Davis, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Per the report, “numerous talks” have already taken place between the Oakland brass and Octagon agent Lou Nero.
Despite the evident mutual interest, Slusser indicates that it’s far from clear whether anything will get done. The length of a potential contract is an obvious stumbling block. By her reckoning, Davis’s camp might only bite at a three-year guarantee, but that feels steep from the organization’s perspective.
Davis, 30, is under arbitration control for another season. He’s earning $10.5MM for 2018 and will surely command another healthy raise. After all, Davis is threatening to register more than forty home runs and one hundred runs batted in for the third-straight season.
Those counting stats may not play quite as well in free agency as they once did. But that doesn’t mean that Davis’s bat wouldn’t be seen as a valuable asset. He has been a steady producer since landing in Oakland, with a .245/.322/.521 cumulative slash (127 OPS+) through 1,595 plate appearances. While his overall utility is greatly diminished by a lack of defensive and baserunning ability, Davis would hold appeal to other American League clubs.
All things considered, it’s an interesting situation. The sides reportedly weighed an arb-only deal earlier this season, but that never came to fruition. It’s possible that a multi-year scenario would better suit all sides, though there’s also good reason to expect that the club will be wary of making too great a commitment. For Davis, he says he’s “keeping an open mind” but will mostly trust his agent.
Extending your DH instead of position players seems….not wise.
For what it’s worth supposedly they approached Chapman and were turned down. Would love to see them lock up a lot of their young guys.
Knew that, but was thinking more about Olson or Lowrie.
Nelson Cruz says NO
Good point.
I saw Eric Sogard got released, I’m expecting the A’s to give him a mega deal. That seems to be how they operate.
Its been 4 years since they gave anyone a contract other than a relief pitcher.
“He has been a steady producer since landing in Oakland, with a .245/.322/.521”
How’s chris Davis doing in Baltimore with that slash line?
Gotta love a “steady” producer.
What are you talking about? That “steady” producer has an .840 ops. Don’t be a dinosaur who relay on average to tell if a player is good or not
Average will always be the key of real performance. All other stats just show what the player could be. Time to be real not the “what ifs”
This doesn’t make sense at all. Especially when it comes to rate stats rather than expected stats or other formula stats.
Again, with your thoughts ask Baltimore how’s their Chris Davis is and contract. Let me know if you u need other examples like Ryan howard too or albert p.
By that logic mike Schmidt was a terrible hitter because he only hit .300 once in his 18 seasons.
Yes, cause he led the league in strike puts 4x. Balls in play for hits he did well. But that’s only when he connected for hits. Hence why his career line spells the true…duh
Read your name, Then change it to NotaSmartFan
To long…I keep it short like your girl complains about.
I bet you’re the kinda guy who laughs at his own jokes
Not jokes; only the truth . lil dicky
So you’re admitting to a felony like honestly you’re a buffoon.
Say what now? On base and slugging aren’t projections, they’re rate stats of what someone has actually done.
Can’t tell if you’re serious or sarcastic – that’s bad.
Got it. All hits are equal.
You are 12.
Albert Pujols doesn’t even strike out, what are you even saying because you contradict yourself.
I think this is satire. If not, geez – OBP and Slg are way more useful stats than batting average, and if you think Mike Schmidt was a bad player because he struck out a bunch you don’t understand baseball at all.
Sarcasm is the best evil in some people. :)
But you weren’t being sarcastic. Drunk maybe, but you were serious
Nobody has said Mike Schmidt was a bad player. Slugging % measures power. OBP is exactly what it says. To ignore either is just as bad as ignoring batting ave. If Davis replaces some of those strikeouts with singles, who would argue that it wouldn’t make him a more valuable player?
He’s on pace for his 3rd consecutive 40 homer season and 3rd consecutive 100 RBI season that’s not bad at all for a .240 hitter… and ops matters more nowadays
No it’s not, if you’re looking at entry-level metrics, OPS is. Even OBP is better than batting average.
Look, literally the only job of a hitter is to not make an out, making outs = bad, not making outs = good. Therefore batting average, which don’t include walks, hbp or other ways of getting on base is never superior to OBP.
Remember when Schmidt ruined Pat Burrell’s career because he kept harassing and bullying him about his strike outs? Cool guy.
Right..cause another players words can do more harm than a player underachieving?
Isnt Pat in the Phillies wall of fame?
Career ruined i guess..
Chris Davis has so many highs and lows and it’s not even funny. Nothing steady about his stat line.
Ur always a DICK
For a guy that produces in the middle of the lineup why not go 3 years $33 that’s Billy Butler Aka Country Breakfast money except in this situation he wants to play for the A’s
Given the current market for DHs that’s way too much. You can get a Adam Lind or Matt Adams to platoon DH for 5 mil and the other days do what most other teams are doing and rotate players to keep them fresh. The DH is disappearing because of pen usage. Another reason to limit the amount of pitchers on the roster. Force teams to develop RPs who can pitch multiple innings.
Platooning two DHs with dreadful gloves, counteracts your point about how valuable roster spots are.
Why do they care about the glove if they’re a DH?
Why should that be part of the game? Why do you care how many roster spots are taken by pitchers?
If you haven’t noticed they’re talking about rules like banning the shift and other ridiculous things. The problem is the parade of nameless RPs. Less pitching changes also speeds up the game which they were trying to do last season. Kills to stones with one bird.
It’s two birds with one stone for what it’s worth., but I wholeheartedly agree with you. How do these professional athletes get tired after throwing 30 pitches?
It probably would buy the A’s a bit of goodwill with players in general to extend a guy who has played well for them and enjoys it there at a market rate extension instead of trying to lowball him. They have a decent up and coming core right now and if they want to truly try and compete with the Astros in the coming seasons they will need to spend on some free agents. With the A’s history of being cheap combined with that stadium they aren’t the most attractive destination. Showing a little loyalty wouldn’t kill them.
This is probably the best comment on the situation. I think the core is probably better than just decent but that’s semantics, really.
For all the comments about his low batting average I wish to quote Sparky Anderson. “Batting average is the most over rated stat in baseball. The difference between a 250 and a 300 average is approx. one hit a week.”
I will amend Sparky by adding that on base percentage is very important.
I’m more impressed with how he always ends up with exactly a .247 BA very single year, and he could easily get there again this year. How is that possible??
consistency
The the A’s can’t extend him in the next couple weeks do they trade him by the deadline?
In contention for a wild card spot, and he’s still got a year left after this season. Why would they trade him now?