OAKLAND — With the A’s playoff hopes rapidly fading, an old friend could be the perfect solution to give Oakland’s offense a much-needed boost of power. But any reunion with Khris Davis is complicated.
Davis, who hit 158 home runs in five seasons with the A’s before being traded in February, has rediscovered his power stroke and is tearing the cover off the ball at Triple-A. Earlier this week he homered in four straight games, totaling seven home runs in 11 games with the Las Vegas Aviators with a .370 average (17-for-46) and 18 RBI.
Riding a five-game losing streak into Friday’s game against the New York Yankees and with barely a month remaining in the season, Davis, who when he was hot carried the team, would seem like an obvious place for the A’s to look when rosters expand Wednesday — if not sooner.
His case is convincing. But will it be enough?
His former manager has taken note, but a reunion will be up to baseball operations.
“He’s swinging the bat really well. What am I going to do? I don’t have any say in it,” manager Bob Melvin said last week. “Look, we’ll see what transpires down the road. He knew when he came here it was a long shot. I wish we could expand more than two players in September, but he’s doing what he’s set his mind to do and showing everybody he still has a lot of baseball left in him.”
The 2021 roster expansion rules allow teams two players, 28-man rosters, that may expand to 29 players for any split or regular doubleheader. Those limitations make a more versatile player the smarter choice. Davis hit at least 42 home runs three straight seasons with the A’s from 2016-18, but has performed below replacement player level at the past three seasons. But a stagnant offense that’s seen a power shortage with Mark Canha scuffling, Ramón Laureano suspended and Matt Chapman seeing productive bursts spliced between long cold streaks could use a shot of power.
Las Vegas Ballpark is a power hitter’s paradise, and Davis needs to prove he can hit for power consistently if he wants to crack the active roster again. This small sample size might not be enough.
Davis, 33, has spiraled since he led baseball with 48 home runs and helped carry the A’s to a postseason spot in 2018. After injuring his side colliding with a fence in PNC Park’s outfield in May of 2019, Davis lost himself at the plate. In 2019 and 2020 with the A’s, Davis batted .217 with 25 total home runs in 165 games. He hit two home runs total in 30 games in 2020’s regular season, finding his stride a bit in the postseason.
Oakland traded him to the Texas Rangers in the offseason in a transaction that sent shortstop Elvis Andrus to the A’s. Dealing with injuries, Davis batted .157 with two home runs in 32 games and was released on June 13.
Chapman rang up his old teammate to help get him off the couch and back with the A’s.
“I have definitely been keeping up with it,” Chapman said on Thursday. “It doesn’t surprise me. KD is capable of great things and it’s unfortunate how the last year went for KD. But I think KD is the same guy. I think it’s all up here, and a confident KD is a dangerous KD and it shows now for sure. And I’d like to think I facilitated it a little bit, but it’s cool he’s an Oakland A.”
Davis is doing his part in Las Vegas, but no call-up is guaranteed. One spot remains on the 40-man roster and Piscotty was ruled out for the remainder of the season and should be placed on the 60-day IL after undergoing wrist surgery on Friday, which would clear another spot.
With Chris Bassitt recuperating from facial surgery for around six weeks, the A’s may use a spot for a pitcher. Top pitching prospect Daulton Jefferies was called up as the corresponding roster move when outfielder Seth Brown was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Friday. Jefferies is expected to stay with the team through the rest of the season.
Mike Fiers, on the 60-day IL currently, threw his first bullpen session on Friday. If all goes well, the $3.5 million free agent could be flipped into the open roster spot.
Davis’ potential return may also complicate a crowded designated hitter situation. Mitch Moreland hasn’t been too impressive, boasting a .227 average and .701 OPS with 10 home runs. He’s a solid option against right-handed pitchers, batting .242 with eight home runs against them. It’s been a decent match-up-based platoon with Jed Lowrie earning more time as the designated hitter to both keep him away from too much time at second base — coming off a knee injury, keeping him healthy is key — and to keep his .358 average with runners in scoring position in the lineup.
Are there enough at-bats for Davis to take on? He could be slotted in against left-handed pitching for some key match-ups. But with slim production and injuries in the outfield, the A’s may see it imperative that they call up another position player such as outfield prospect Luis Barrera, who is slashing .249 /.325/.347 in 69 games with the Aviators this year.
Other options on the 40-man roster include outfielder Skye Bolt, batting .391 with nine home runs in Las Vegas. They may also call up utility player Vimael Machín, who can play just about any position in the infield and can free up Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp for outfield reps. They’re carrying two catchers, Austin Allen and Aramis Garcia, who may also get a call-up, though it’s unlikely they carry three catchers behind Sean Murphy and Yan Gomes with the outfield thinning.
But if the A’s are looking to take a chance on a power infusion, Davis could be the guy.
