Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday night proved to be a big one for fans of Major League Baseball as both the league and the MLBPA agreed to a new CBA, effectively ending the 99-day lockout. While this news comes as a relief for fans and ballplayers alike, for J.D. Davis, this news seems to serve as bringing the inevitable to the forefront, in his mind at least. In this case, the “inevitable” news is that he feels he will be dealt to another team sooner rather than later.
Before the end of the 2021 season, Davis stated that his time with the Mets was dependent on a “flip of a coin” in talking with Mike Puma of the New York Post. Since then, the club has added outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha along with infielder Eduardo Escobar. Add in the return of second baseman Robinson Cano from his PED suspension as well as IF/OF Jeff McNeil and 1B/OF Dominic Smith, the Mets roster and bench has seemingly become more crowded than it was prior to the end of last season.
“From my gut feeling, I could be out of here — that’s kind of where it’s leaning toward,” said Davis, who placed his odds of returning at 50-50. “But there is a possibility I could come back. I love New York. I love the fans and I love the city, so I don’t know, it’s a flip of the coin.”
The Mets are still looking to acquire another bat along with a starting pitcher. Even with the universal DH implemented, that spot would more than likely be reserved for a rotation of Cano, McNeil/Smith or a new acquisition via trade or sign, than Davis, which more than likely signals a one way ticket out of Queens. In addition, the club was actively looking to move Davis the prior offseason for another third baseman but nothing materialized on that front. While the team decided to give him a chance, injuries and lack of production and playing time severely hampered any breakout season he possibly could have had in 2021.
Acquired in the 2019 offseason, Davis stormed onto the scene in New York by putting up a strong campaign. Slashing .307/.369/.527 with 22 home runs and 57 RBI’s, he was seem as a hidden gem, stolen from the clutches out of the Houston Astros system. Playing a huge part in the team’s wild card chase, he was involved in many big moments, including a walk-off hit against Cleveland in August of that season. The shortened 2020 season saw more of the same for Davis but on a smaller scale, appearing in 56 games, slashing .247/.371/.389 with 6 home runs and 19 RBI’s. All signs pointed to Davis being a strong part of any future Mets teams.
Only appearing in 73 games due to a torn ligament in his hand, Davis struggled to return to his 2019 form, putting up a slash line of .285/.384/.436 alongside 5 home runs and 23 RBI’s in 211 plate appearances. Dealing with soreness, he felt as if he couldn’t get enough on the ball with his hand, which led to his struggles and was eventually replaced by Jonathan Villar. In speaking to the New York Post, Davis was quoted as saying:
“There were numerous [times] where I was trying to compensate and kind of put the ball in play, so my mechanics broke down, and I was just trying to get the job done, being a team player,” Davis said. “My power wasn’t there because of the ability to not really control the barrel with my left hand.”
Now Davis claims that the likelihood of him being moved is “60-40 out of here” but hopes that being a right-handed hitter will entice the club to keep him around. Before the lockout, the Cubs, Twins, Red Sox and Athletics were all interested in Davis and now with the lockout finally coming to a conclusion, talks will more than likely ramp up again. New GM Billy Eppler and team owner Steve Cohen are dead set on going all out on improving the club after a disappointing 2021, which might add more fuel to a Davis trade.
In the chance Davis stays with the club, he will have a massively limited role as a reserve than what he’s had in Queens before and with the Mets looking to add another bat, it seems that he will stick to the bench more than being out on the field. Although baseball is a surprising sport with anything bound to happen, it seems as if Davis’ hunch is correct and he will more than likely walk on a major league diamond with someone other than the New York Mets. A tough thing to say but that’s the cost of doing business.
