The Oakland Athletics signed speedy outfielder Rajai Davis to a one-year deal late Tuesday night. The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of YAHOO! Sports on Twitter, and is worth $6 million.
Source: Rajai Davis and the Oakland A’s are in agreement on a one-year deal for $6M.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 4, 2017
Oakland Athletics Sign Rajai Davis
This is a reunion for the two sides, as Davis played in Oakland from 2008-2010. He set a career high with 50 stolen bases in 2010. The fleet-footed 36-year-old is currently fifth in steals among all active players, with 365.
Davis spent last year with the Cleveland Indians in a soft-platoon role with rookie lefty center fielder Tyler Naquin. He batted .249/.306/.388 with 43 steals and a career-high 12 homers. His eighth-inning homer off then-Chicago Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman in game seven of the World Series ranked as one of the most iconic moments of the postseason.
For 2017, Davis joins an Athletics squad in need of a true center fielder after trading Billy Burns to the Kansas City Royals last July for power-hitting corner outfielder Brett Eibner. He will be embarking on his 12th big-league season.
Davis has never been much of a threat with his bat, and likely won’t become one in his return to the Bay Area. He has hit above .300 for a season just once (2009), and has finished with a batting average of .260 or worse in five of the past six seasons. In addition, 2016 was the first double-digit home run season of his career.
However, when he gets on base, he’s as dangerous as anyone in baseball. Davis stole at least 34 bases in seven of his past eight campaigns. As Oakland finished with the fifth-fewest steals in the league as a team last season, Davis will be a welcome addition.
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