The New York Mets are still looking at free-agent bats and a former player who just hit the market could fit the bill.
One day after the San Francisco Giants cut third baseman J.D. Davis, the Mets have reportedly reached out for a potential reunion with their former player, who was with the Mets for nearly four seasons, per the New York Post.
Davis being on the market is surprising. He just won an arbitration case with the San Francisco Giants and was set to make $6.9 million. But the Giants signed Matt Chapman to a three-year contract, making Davis somewhat obsolete.
The Giants weren’t stuck with Davis, either. Because it was an arbitration ruling the money wasn’t immediately guaranteed. So, by releasing him, the Giants only have to pay him a $1.9 million termination fee.
That means a team like the Mets could benefit.
The former third-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2014 joined the Mets in a trade, as he arrived with Cody Bohanek for Ross Adolph, Luis Santana, and Scott Manea before the 2019 season.
He had a powerful debut for the Mets in 2019, hitting 22 home runs in what his first full season of Major League Baseball. He spent nearly four seasons with the Mets in the Majors and finished with a .278 batting average with 37 home runs and 120 RBI.
But the Mets used him, along with pitchers Carson Seymour, Nick Zwack, and Thomas Szapucki to acquire first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf from the Giants in the middle of 2022.
Last season with San Francisco Davis batted Davis batted .248 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI. He was hitting .400 this spring before he was released.
Along with what would be low-cost pop at the plate, Davis can play both corner infield positions and in the outfield.
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