The Rockies are designating reliever Wade Davis for assignment, per Nick Groke of the Athletic (via Twitter). This brings to an end a three-year tenure in Denver that was an overwhelming disappointment.
Davis entered free agency on the heels of a four-year run as one of the sport’s most dominant late-inning arms. Between 2014-17, he combined for 241.1 innings of 1.45 ERA/2.23 FIP ball for the Royals and Cubs. He was a vital piece of Kansas City’s 2015 World Series winner.
The Rockies surely envisioned much of the same when they embarked on a bullpen-focused spending spree in the 2017-18 offseason. Colorado brought in Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee on three-year, $27MM deals before finishing with a flourish, inking Davis to a $52MM guarantee over the same term.
There were some warning signs the 32-year-old Davis wasn’t going to be able to sustain his prior levels of production. His walk rate spiked to a lofty 11.6% in his platform season, while his 94.4MPH fastball that year was down a tick from his unhittable peak with the Royals.
That said, it would’ve been impossible to predict Davis’ career going off the rails to the extent it has. His first season as a Rockie was actually solid, as he managed a 4.13 ERA in 65.1 innings. That was a far cry from his prime years, although it was still solidly better than average when adjusting for the hitter-friendly environs of Coors Field.
Last season, though, proved to be an unmitigated disaster. Davis pitched to an 8.65 ERA in 42.2 innings, with a massive spike in walk rate (to 14.1%) and a precipitous drop in strikeout rate (to 20.4%). His attempt at a 2020 bounceback never really got off the ground. He only got into five games, with a shoulder strain knocking him out of action for more than a month. Davis’ fate was sealed after he got tagged for four runs on four hits in just two-thirds of an inning in yesterday’s loss to the Dodgers.
Davis will surely clear waivers, since any claiming team would be on the hook for the remainder of his contract. It’s possible he tries to latch on with another club for the season’s final week, but he’d be ineligible for another team’s postseason roster at this point. To that end, Davis will probably turn his attention to 2021. After back-to-back lost seasons, the 35-year-old may have to settle for minor-league opportunities this offseason.
My birthday was yesterday but I don’t mind the belated gift
The Phillies need Davis or the Cardinals should sign him.
Why would the Cardinals sign him? They already have a good bullpen and will get both Gant and Gallegos back soon.
As a Brewers fan, I think the Cubs should sign him to a multi-year deal and immediately insert him into the closer’s role. Watching him and Kimbrel finish out games would be enjoyable for me. Sorry…I know that was uncalled for LOL
Not even Phillie needs someone pitching this badly
Can think of 2 Lake Wales area kids made it to MLB. Davis and one time player Larry Parrish, who still used to live between Haines City and Lake Wales as of like 20y ago.
This is a day just as good as the day we DFAed McGee & Shaw
No it isn’t. We still had a chance on that day.
Mcgee has been lights out lol.
Foooor the Dodgers, absolutely wouldn’t for the Rockies
McGee has been excellent for the Dodgers
McGee has some of the worst splits at Coors Field. 100% would not be like this as a Rockie.
By that logic, the Rockies should DFA every pitcher on the the roster play only hitters.
You don’t understand, it’s some of the WORST. Of COURSE most pitchers have worse ERAs but not to the degree of McGee.
2019 McGee at Home: 5.95 ERA
2019 McGee on the Road: 2.91 ERA
2018 McGee at Home: 7.56 ERA
2018 McGee on the Road: 5.47
Davis has been even worse in that regard the past couple of years.
2020 ERA: 34.71 Home, 4.50 Road [small samples]
2019 ERA: 11.10 Home, 5.40 Road
2018 ERA: 4.73 Home, 3.55 Road
Yikes
McGee sure showed the Rockies though
Man he’s been awful for the Rockies.
Fire Bridich
Someone will definitely pick him up, and Davis will enjoy a Renaissance over the next couple seasons there. You just know that’s how this story is gonna end.
Really hope the Royals pick him up. I know he’s been terrible but it’d be nice to have him back for the nostalgia.
Here’s a game:
Guess the next reliever the Rockies will sign to a big contract just as he begins a precipitous decline.
I’ll say either Ken Giles or Kirby Yates.
No way Giles gets a big contract until he touches 100 again. Was averaging 94 which is a drastic drop on a guy who’s relied on heat to get outs. His best course of action is to sign a 1 year deal to stay with the Blue Jays.
Sounds just like somebody the Rockies will throw 3/50 at, unless they have somehow learned from their mistakes.
If anyone follows the Dodgers or Rockies they can see its fitting that the Dodgers put the KO punch on Davis-
This guy probably will have nightmares for years about the Dodgers. We not only took his job I wouldnt doubt a little of his soul was incorporated as well in some of these recent outings
Check the game outings 18-20 with LAD ! And they were BIG big games in which these events occured
how is any GM, Bridich or otherwise, supposed to make a pen that works at Coors?
Rockies really overpaid Davis,Shaw and Mcgee to just DFA them. Lmao
The Cubs weren’t in the 2017 World Series and Davis wasn’t a member of the 2016 team that won it. His only title was with KC in 15….and he was a total beast that year. Good guy too…best of luck to him.
Not sure how they get stuff like this wrong.
Yeah, bad whiff on that one on my part. Thanks for the heads up.
Yea.. Davis didn’t win the World Series with the Cubs.. he came in the deal for Soler before 2017
Don’t understand why any pitcher would go to Colorado besides an overpay.
Maybe a fastball/change-up reliever or a knuckleballer who doesn’t have to worry about the thin air flattening traditional breaking pitches?
Just the beginning of a big overhaul for the Rockies. Three bad beatings in three nights from L.A. Could we please show Bridich the door with the EXIT sign over it. Maybe Bud Black will feel the axe first. Very discouraging.
If you think 3 bad beating to the Dodgers is anything new, you obviously haven’t been watch Rockies baseball for very long.
I know it’s nothing new, and I was there back in ’93 when the Rox got started. We need to change the scenario. I’m saying the winds of change are coming. Even you will see that soon enough.
Even me, huh?
Wow, that turned out to be an even worse reliever signing than Brett Cecil!
A combined $196 million for Wade Davis, Ian Desmond, and Daniel Murphy nets -0.4 WAR, Oh well. At least Bridich didn’t overpay to bring back LeMahieu :)
ouch…… lol
I’m just now able to think about Mike Hampton and Neagle without vomiting. That only took about 15 years. Hopefully I’ll start to feel better about Davis, Shaw, Desmond, and McGee before 2035
I could see him im spring training with the Red Sox next year