It looks like the Milwaukee Brewers are on the verge of signing first baseman Mark Reynolds according to Ken Rosenthal, thus ending any chance that they would be a landing spot for Ike Davis.
The Mets and Ike Davis avoided arbitration earlier today, and agreed to a one-year deal, worth $3.5 million dollars according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Davis earned $3.1 million last year, so this deal gives him a little raise over last year’s $3.1 million.
Davis played in just 103 games last season, and batted .205 with a .326 on-base percentage, .334 slugging percentage, nine homers, 33 RBI and 101 strikeouts in 317 at-bats.
Sandy Alderson said Ike will be in camp this Spring after months of engaging teams such as the Brewers, Orioles and Pirates in trade talks to move him. He doesn’t expect any lingering hurt feelings.
“Awkwardness should not exist in Mets camp this spring.”
Alderson had reached out to Davis a couple of weeks ago. “He was in a good mood,” the Mets GM said. “I don’t think any of this talk over the winter has bothered him. I think he’s anxious to get to Spring Training and show what he can do. I was certainly pleased by that.”
Ike has told teammates and friends that he genuinely does want to remain with the Mets, so I suspect all will be well at Camp Mets next month.
The one thing to watch is if the Mets end up cutting Davis before the season begins and just paying him $600K, especially if he shows no improvement during Spring Training. It’s definitely a possibility, but we’ll see…
