New A’s third baseman J.D. Davis said he’s appreciative of his opportunity with Oakland after absorbing “a punch to the gut” when the Giants released him earlier this week.
Davis, who finalized his $2.5 million, one-year deal with the A’s on Saturday, was cut by the Giants, who utilized a contractual loophole to part ways with the 30-year-old on Monday after he beat the team last month in arbitration.
“It was a punch to the gut,” Davis told MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos. “You’re getting the rug pulled out from under you in a way where you’re not expecting that entirely. … It’s just part of the business of baseball. But to have that happen, I definitely had some lows in there.
“However, this opportunity over here seems a little bit better than what it was over there, so I’m grateful for it.”
Although Davis was awarded a $6.9 million salary after an arbitration hearing, under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, arbitration-eligible players’ contracts are only guaranteed if they’re not decided by an arbitration panel. The Giants began the process of releasing Davis not long after signing free-agent third baseman Matt Chapman.
Davis, who received $1.1 million from the Giants in termination pay rather than the full $6.9 million he “won” at his hearing, can earn an additional $1 million from the A’s through performance bonuses. Davis’ new contract calls for bonuses of $100,000 for hitting the 250- and 350-plate appearances plateaus, as well as $150,000 each for 400 and 450 plate appearances, and if he makes 500 and 550 trips to the plate, he’d earn $250,000 each time.
Ironically, another cruel part of the game’s business created room on the A’s roster for Davis when right-hander Angel Felipe was designated for assignment. Felipe will miss the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday.
Davis, who hit .248 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs last year with the Giants, will be the A’s every day third baseman when not making an occasional appearance at first base, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said.
Davis will make his spring training debut with the A’s on Sunday in Mesa against the White Sox.
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Meanwhile, Saturday was a rough day for two A’s pitcher battling for the fifth spot in the rotation. Leading contender Joe Boyle continued his wild ways, walking four in four innings during an 11-4 loss to the Brewers. Boyle has walked nine batters in seven innings over his last two starts. Left-hander Kirk Muller, last year’s Opening Day starter, wasn’t as wild in his split-squad start in an 11-9 loss against the Rockies, but he was also ineffective. Muller gave up nine hits and six runs in three innings.