Athletics Add Ike Davis

Susan Slusser has just reported that the Oakland Athletics have acquired Ike Davis from the Pittsburgh Pirates for international slot money.

Slusser also says that adding Davis is not an indication that another of their first basemen will be on the move, but it does give them the flexibility to do so if a good offer comes their way.

Last week, Billy Beane talked about improving the major league club, while also rebuilding the farm system. This could be one of those moves. Adding Ike Davis to the first base mix, which now has six players, should in fact signal that one of those players will be departing, and it could be for prospects.

Currently the A’s have Brandon Moss, Billy Butler, Nate Freiman, Kyle Blanks, Davis, and potentially John Jaso all ready to man first. We have talked about it here before, but Jaso could be on the move due to being squeezed out. While Jaso has been cleared for all baseball activity, his concussion history is worrisome. Even if he can catch, would the Athletics want to rely on him to make it to the end of the season unscathed, after he has missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons? This is why Jaso is a prime candidate to be on the move, and it may not take much to land him.

Davis, 27, had a monster 2012, hitting 32 home runs with the Mets, while driving in 90. In 2014, Davis was hitting just .208 with New York in the early going, after hitting .205 in 2013, and was traded to the Pirates. With Pittsburgh, Davis hit .235 and totaled an on-base percentage of .344.

Davis is an intriguing option for Oakland. Whether or not he makes it to the Spring is another question. If the plan is for him to stick in Oakland, look for another move to follow shortly involving one of the A’s other first basemen.