Yankees Bring J.D. Davis Back To NYC

 

Yankee Stadium's vintage facade. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Yankees today announced on Sunday that they have acquired infielder J.D. Davis and cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for infielder Jordan Groshans.

This is a move precipitated by the fact the Yankees now suddenly have injuries to their first baseman, Anthony Rizzo - who was placed on the 60-day injured list after he fractured his arm last weekend in Boston - and designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday morning with a left hamstring strain. 

New York baseball fans will remember Davis from his time with the Mets from 2019-22, and largely how, even though he was a good player, he never got a full opportunity that the San Francisco Giants gave him in the one-and-a-half seasons he spent with them.

Last season in San Francisco, when Davis was the Giants' starting third baseman, he hit .248, with 18 home runs and 69 RBI, a .325 on-base percentage, and a .413 slugging percentage, in 144 games.

Davis, 31, went to the Oakland A's this season, and he hit .236 (29-for-123) with 12R, 4 doubles, 4HR, 5RBI, 9BB and 3HP in 39 games. 

What must appeal most to the Yankees is that he appeared defensively at first base (24 games/17 games started) and third base (14G/11GS). 

The Giants had signed Davis to a Major League contract on February 7, 2024, before surprisingly being released on March 11. He was signed by Oakland to a Major League contract on March 16 before being designated for assignment on June 18.

Davis has had an eight-year Major League career, which started with the Houston Astros in 2017 and '18 before he joined the Mets (2019-22), who sent him to the San Francisco Giants midway through the 2022 season and he was there in '23 as well, and and Oakland Athletics this season.

In his career, Davis has batted .259 (483-for-1,865) with 72 home runs, 220 RBI, and 207 walks in 634 games. He has appeared defensively in his career at third base (320G/270GS), left field (94G/81GS) and first base (72G/46GS).

Davis, and Elk Grove, Calif., native was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays but did not sign, electing to go to college. Three years later, he was drafted by Houston in the third round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State Fullerton.

The Yankees have transferred relief pitcher Nick Burdi to the 60-day injured list.

Davis' first action for the Yankees might came against his old team, the Mets, at Citi Field, during the two-game Subway Series starting Tuesday night.