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Oakland A’s hoping for production from Matt Davidson

By David Hill

Apr 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Matt Davidson against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Matt Davidson against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Everyone knew that there would be some pain with the Oakland A’s lineup this year. Sluggers Matt Olson and Matt Chapman were gone, leaving a great deal of nothing behind as it came to their offense. Despite those defections, it is difficult to imagine that the lineup would have been this bad.

That quest for anything resembling a productive major league hitter has led to the latest moves. As part of a series of transactions, Parker Markel has been designated for assignment and Sheldon Neuse has been optioned to Las Vegas. In their place, the A’s have activated Stephen Vogt from the Injured List and added Matt Davidson to the roster.

Oakland A’s hope Matt Davidson can provide something

It is clear that the A’s need something in their lineup. They had posted a .210/.276/.324 batting line as a team heading into Wednesday, ranking dead last in the American League in batting average and on base percentage. When Elvis Andrus is second on the team in OPS+ regardless of how many plate appearances a player has, there is a problem.

Davidson, meanwhile, had been on fire in Triple-A. He had a combined .306/.389/.711 batting line in his 139 plate appearances with the A’s and Diamondbacks organizations, slugging 15 homers. Yes, the Pacific Coast League is an offensive haven, but that type of production is going to get noticed regardless.

He has had success at the major league level before. Davidson had a combined 46 homers in 2017 and 2018 with the White Sox. He provides a power threat that the A’s lineup simply does not have at this point in time.

For the A’s, there is absolutely no harm in giving Davidson a chance. His track record of having some success in the majors, and being under team control until 2025, makes him someone that could be a longer term option as the A’s continue their rebuild.

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The Oakland A’s are looking for a spark in the lineup. Matt Davidson does have a power element that the lineup is sorely missing.