Free agency may not officially begin until the middle of November, but that did not matter for Matt Davidson.
The Oakland A’s infielder was one of 34 players who entered free agency earlier in the week, giving them a a jump on finding a new team for the 2023 season.
Matt Davidson entering free agency not a surprise
It should not be a surprise that Davidson is looking for other opportunities. He was no longer on the A’s 40 man roster, and with more than three years of experience in the majors, was able to elect minor league free agency. It was an easy decision to make.
At the same time, it is fair to wonder where Davidson’s next chance will come from. He has just 33 major league appearances since the end of the 2018 season and will be 32 years old at the start of the 2023 campaign. He has not done much in those chances, posting a .156/.226/.364 batting line in his 84 plate appearances, striking out 26 times. However, he has hit five homers, still showing the power that made him an intriguing player during his time with the White Sox.
Davidson has also performed well in Triple-A. That continued this season as he posted a .310/.414/.644 batting line in 382 plate appearances between the Diamondbacks and A’s systems, hitting 32 homers. It is entirely possible that a team will bring him in on a minor league contract as a depth option, giving him a chance to earn a spot during spring training.
That may be the best that Davidson can hope for. The likeliest outcomes for his latest trek in free agency are to be a minor league depth option once again or to head overseas in hopes of rebuilding his career. Davidson could be a star in Asia with his power, but it comes down to whether or not he would want to head to a different culture.
Matt Davidson has gotten a jumpstart on free agency. It is not a surprise that the Oakland A’s infielder would want to test the market again.