Tuesday, J.D. Davis finished his daily offseason workout in the Scottsdale Arizona area. He has heard the rumors of being linked to going to Cleveland in a trade for Francisco Lindor.
“Tell you really, I pay no attention to the rumors,” he said to me. “It’s part of baseball and the business of it. I am with the New York Mets and look forward to next season.”
Davis came to the Mets in January of 2019 traded from the Houston Astros for three minor league players and perhaps that was one of the better transactions during the brief GM reign of Brodie Van Wagenen.
As with a majority of the Mets, Davis took an interest in their new owner Steve Cohen. Some players have talked with team president Sandy Alderson. They are excited about the new regime and how the Mets have become the talk of baseball.
A billionaire owner will cause a buzz and for the Mets that accounts to spending money on frontline free agent players. Cohen has also made a great first impression with the fans.
“Mets fans are the best,” said Davis. “We missed them at Citi Field this year and hope everyone back in New York are doing okay. Hope to see them again soon. Even miss you media guys in the clubhouse.”
So in the next few months a complexion of the Mets roster is bound to see some changes. There will be trades and Davis could be involved in one of them. And there are speculated high profiled players and big time contracts headed to Citi Field.
Davis has no idea who is coming or going. He hopes to keep playing in New York with the Mets and remaining with teammate Dominic Smith. The two have developed a special bond and shared an apartment during the shortened 60-game season.
First it was a rapid and quick stay at a B&B setup in Brooklyn and not too far from Citi Field. Davis and Smith would move to a more spacious and better location in Hoboken, New Jersey.
“Dom is special,” Davis said. “It worked for us. I hope we stay together. If you ever want a teammate it’s Dom. He has a lot of energy. He offers so much to the guys in the clubhouse.”
The Mets, though, will need to find a permanent spot for Smith in the lineup if a universal DH becomes a permanent part of baseball in 2021. If not, Pete Alonso is at first base. There is always the possibility that Smith could be part of a trade after his breakout 2020 season.
Again, trades and the business of baseball are not a concern for J.D. Davis. He just goes about his business and is fortunate to be playing baseball and in New York City.
The numbers this past season did not resemble the J.D. Davis of 2019. Then again, take into account the span of 60-games.
2020: 56 games, 6 HR, 19 RBI, Slash: .247.371/.389/.761
2019: 140 games, 22 HR, 57 RBI, Slash: .307/.369/.527/.895
Davis offered no excuses, but there was that factor of two training camps and starting the season after COVID and a pandemic disrupted the beginning. Take into account, again no excuses, but baseball players are creatures of habit and disruptions of a pandemic or injury cause the setbacks.
“It was different, a crazy year, but we got through it,” Davis said. The COVID testing and strict protocols were an agreement with the players and league and overall it worked.
Davis said about his numbers “I can only blame myself. It’s baseball. No excuses. We are excited about next season. We have a great mix in the clubhouse. Can’t wait to get started again and be a part of the excitement. There is no better place to play than New York.”
But as Davis prepares for 2021, and with a vigorous resurgence of the coronavirus, there are assumptions that spring training in February and a start to the 2021 season could be delayed.
There are also the lingering doubts about fans returning to the ballpark, though MLB during the postseason allowed a limited number of fans and followed protocols in the state of Texas at Globe Life Field.
“Just hope for the best and everyone stay safe,” Davis said.
NOTE: This was written prior to the Robinson Cano 2021 season suspension imposed by MLB due to another offense of using a performance enhancing drug. Davis could not be reached for comment.
