The Mets have made slugging corner infielder/outfielder J.D. Davis available in trades, reports ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. As was rumored throughout the offseason, McDaniel notes that some execs have speculated the Mets could be hoping to include Davis as part of a package to acquire a prominent name such as Kris Bryant or Trevor Story. Nothing involving Davis is close at this time, he adds.
That Davis’ name has again surfaced in rumors only feels natural, given how prominently he was cited in offseason rumblings. The 28-year-old has been an oft-cited trade possibility despite being a vastly above-average hitter during his time with the Mets — in part due to questions about his glovework. Davis’ defense was put under a microscope early this year, in particular, when he made three errors at third base in a span of two games. He’s missed most of the season since that time, owing to a finger injury, but he hasn’t made an error since that time — a span of 18 games and 26 chances at the hot corner.
That’s not to say concerns about Davis’ glove are without merit. He’s spent 944 career innings at third base and posted -21 Defensive Runs Saved, a -4.0 Ultimate Zone Rating and -10 Outs Above Average. It’s not a great profile, and the Mets have also tried Davis in left field. His former club, the Astros, gave him some brief looks at first base, too.
Setting the defensive question marks aside, though, the draw of Davis is very clearly his bat — and with good reason. He’s absolutely raked in 89 plate appearances this season, hitting .325/.416/.545 with four long balls and five doubles. That’s not just a total small-sample fluke, either; since being traded to the Mets, Davis has produced .292/.375/.490 batting line with 32 home runs and 36 doubles in just 771 plate appearances. He’s been 33 percent better than a league-average hitter, by measure of wRC+. That’s borderline star-level production at the plate, as that 133 wRC+ places him right alongside the likes of Rafael Devers, Jesse Winker, Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger and teammate Pete Alonso since the start of the 2019 season. Davis, quite simply, can mash.
Beyond his talent at the plate, Davis offers a long-term option for interested trade partners. He’s earning $2.1MM in 2021 as a first-time arbitration player. Davis reached arbitration a year early as a Super Two player, meaning he’s controllable for three more years beyond the current season. He can be expected to put up some strong counting numbers moving forward, which ought to make his subsequent arbitration raises notable, but this year’s missed time on the injured list will suppress his 2022 salary a bit, at the very least.
There’s no pressure for the Mets to move Davis, given that remaining control. In fact, with most expecting the universal designated hitter to come to the National League in 2022, one could argue that Davis’ value will only go up for the Mets (although the also have both Dominic Smith and Alonso, so they certainly have first base/DH options elsewhere on the roster). As was the case in the offseason, it seems likelier that the win-now Mets would move Davis in a deal to bring back MLB talent rather than prospects.
Whoa
Loup is poup
These are the same guys who said Rizzo was going to Boston.
Why would the Mets need to trade Davis for Story or any other rental? I mean teams are giving away their rentals for their 8 and 10 beat prospects in middle of the pack systems.
And if the Mets offered the Rockies jd Davis straight up for story the Rockies would be foolish to not accept that immediately.
On paper the Mets should have a good offense. Its honestly confusing how below average their offense has been injuries or not.
Clark Griswold got a subscription to the Jelly of the month club instead of a Christmas bonus because it looked good on paper.
Hello…Dexter Morgan
Dom, Pete, and Lindor got off to slow starts. Conforto has been bad. McNeil and Davis have been hurt. McCann was way over hyped due to inflated 2020 numbers. Hope that cleared things up.
Their offense slumped last year too. Hitting with RISP has been a consistent problem with this Mets core. It’s not limited to this season’s injuries.
Are you just making up random stuff as you go? They ranked 3rd OPS in ALL OF MLB.
They’ve all been hitting a lot better recently (even McCann) except Conforto. Dude has been awful all year. What a time for him to have his worst season as a pro.
They are good at getting runners on they just choke driving them in most of the times they need to add a slugger but I’m not sure they will
Cardinals have the same problem…on paper they look good but can’t seem to drive runs in
Cards only look good on paper to cards fans.
Over the last 10 years the Mets offense produced the most under BVW. Its Sandy Alderson.
Yes, the Team President is causing the same players you’re saying hit under BVW to no longer be able to hit. This makes sense.
You also have to look at season splits, not overall averages or rankings, for the whole story.
@r.d. The problems are primarily:
1. Lack of production the first 6 innings. (Personally, I blame the hitting “coaches” for being unable to prepare a team to face an announced starter.)
2. Lack of good contact with runners in scoring position and 1 or no outs. It’s horrible how often this team fails to score a run with two or three men on with less than 2 outs.
3. Failure to beat shifts.
4. Horrible lineup batting orders. Rojas routinely has the coldest players in positions of high leverage. I personally think blaming Chili Davis and firing him really hurt the Mets young hitters who he mentored. Every one of them was improving under Davis.
5. The righties can’t hit curve balls. Period. This entire ‘stand at the back of the box and flail early at breaking balls’ drives me nuts, especially against guys that only throw 91. The Braves just gave the rest of baseball a recipe to defeat us.
@R.D.
They don’t manufacture runs well. They don’t run the bases well.
Not confusing at all.
The guy with a higher lifetime OPS+ than Joey Babe Ruth Gallo? Get in line! jk
Haven’t watched him play much, but if he’s so bad on defense at 3rd why don’t they just stick him in left?
Because Dom’s in left who should be a first. Their first basemen should be at DH, and their DH got busted for PEDs in the offseason.
It’s not like Dom is a Gold Glove candidate; the tradeoff in offensive gain might be worth it.
Dom has been their best hitter over the last 3 years though, and his numbers have been back to normal the last month and a half after a slow start. Davis isn’t an offensive improvement over him.
Dominic Smith has not been their best hitter over the last 3 years. Not by a long shot. He had a good year last year but two years ago he barely played. Alonso and McNeil have been their best hitters with Davis and Nimmo behind them. before this year Dominic Smith had never had more than a hundred and seventy seven at-bats. I would rather have JD Davis
I just did some research and Smith, Alonso, Davis, McNeil, Nimmo, all have almost an identical wRC+ since 2019 between 130-134. So to say Dom is their best hitter is not necessarily true. You are correct. But all of those guys could make the argument they are the best hitter. It just depends on your personal taste. I guess the overall point is I wouldn’t take Dom out of the lineup fro Davis. I would want to find a way to get both in.
Dom Smith has 1.8 WAR in 340 career games. Guys like that are dime-a-dozen who can hold down a spot in the lineup but you can replace them easily.
Dom has improved in LF this year.
Although there wasn’t much room to decline…
Bad there too lmao
They tried that. It was tough to watch.
Sucks in left field too, I assume. He has a -16.2 UZR/150 in left field. Strong arm, but seems to be best suited for 1B/DH duties.
Because that’s where Dom Smith has to play
They tried that and he’s even worse. Needs to be a DH which the national league may have next year
You notice the mets have 3 of there first round picks in the outfield and the one we really want is in Seattle.
The man can indeed rake, and assuming the DH is going to be everywhere next year, if you can’t find a place for him, you ain’t looking hard enough.
Hard to think of a trade scenario where trading JD brings more to the Mets than his value at 3B, LF, and DH.
Lest we forget how miserable the Mets offense was while he (and Nimmo/McNeil) were on the IL…
I’ve got to hand it to the Mets, they are showing EXTREME resilience at holding on to that lead, and winning the games they have to to stay there, bad division or no
It’s less the Mets and more the pitiful teams behind them.
You’re right, and they can’t keep that up. They just lost 3 of 5 at home to the Braves
this would be an interesting get for any team.
Easy to understand Mets offense; 3 hits in an inning sandwiched in between a Conforto double play. Then with 2 men on Rojas leaves Walker in to strike out and as always follows with a Rojas decision Walker goes another inning and gives up two more runs.
Just like anyone could see Megill in yesterdays game gives you 5 good shut out innings and was tiring but Rojas again let him bat only to take him out in the next inning giving up a HR and ruining the kids confidence and tying the game at 1 denying him for a chance at a win.
No matter what the Mets do or don’t do in trades Sandy on down to Rojas is the real problem. If they were in any other division they would not even be in the Wild Card race.
Let Conforto go and put Davis in RF
I think Rojas IS the issue. Apparently the kids like playing for him however. But he makes head-scratching in-game decisions. The front office has done an “above-average” job in getting patches to fill holes temporarily.
For short periods of time, Peraza, McKinney, Megill etc., have filled in and cost practically nothing.
It’s Rojas. Perhaps he needs more experience, not sure. But I recall someone related to the Mets say, “I don’t want someone learning on my dime” (Cohen).
You think Rojas IS the issue??
Explain to me how Rojas is the reason Akeem Bostick pitched in the MLB today.
Explain it to me like I’m 4.
This is such a Mets thing. Their only consistent hitter. LMAO!
Nimmo is far better as is Alonso and McNeil
Danny Heep 2.0 after he leaves the Mets will be a journey man. He is OK
Who is Heep 2.0? Nimmo? Neither their stats nor value are even remotely close. Nimmo is very good unless you completely ignore the whole getting on base thing.
Its the only thing that makes him ok. Average defense cant steal drive in runs or homeruns. Hes ok
He’s spent 944 career innings at third base and posted -21 Defensive Runs Saved, a -4.0 Ultimate Zone Rating and -10 Outs Above Average.
With defense like that why even bother wearing a glove?
This is admittedly based way more on instinct than anything else, but Davis is someone I’d try to sell high on. I’m unconvinced that 2020 Davis (i.e. a WRC+ around 110-115) isn’t what we’re going to see from him long term. That’s obviously not bad, but it’s something you can upgrade from & it doesn’t take into account the defensive issues. Also, there’s the matter of the Mets having a good system for 3B – to me, it makes a lot of sense to try and get the best possible value back for Davis now, bring in a shorter term starter, and have the position ready for a younger player like Vientos, Baty, Mauricio, etc. to step in a few seasons down the line.
I agree, and so do the Mets, but keep in mind NY fans in general have memories like gold fish. They will see how good he is doing now and completely forget how meh he was last year. He is their best hitter now so it should hold true that he will be their best hitter forever and that makes him untouchable.
A statement like that is why goldfish file so many class action suits for defamation.
Yes I remember the classic Goldfish v Nebraska of 1999.
Cohan must have Bryant lined up
for a 2 month rental whos most likely going to get hurt again before seasons end? Not sure why everyone is jumping hard on Bryant….
Lol try to be a little unbiased for just a sec and you might see why. Best available bat who can literally play anywhere on the diamond, yea no value in that. Lmao
Wonder if a 1B needy contender will go after him.
He can’t play defense or hit lefties hope he’s a goner
His career wRC+ is exactly the same versus lefties and righties.
Who are you to assume anyone is interested in statistics?
They say the guy can rake, but I haven’t seen one shred of lawn maintenance. I just know he’s awful against lefties.
But that is something I know extremely strongly!
Horrible – The team can’t hit! You don’t trade away your cleanup hitter and next years DH when you can’t hit!
“Next year’s DH” because we had one this year? Still dangerous to assume we get the DH next year.
If we do get the DH next year (I hope we don’t) Max Fried will hit for himself
I still say keep him in case. If no DH he will still have a good bit of value in the winter
Maybe it going to take current MLB roster players instead of prospects to get a big deal done. Every GM wants controllable players, but beggars can’t he choosers.
He’s the Boss much like his namesake JD Hogg
DBacks should look into it as a younger piece to replace Escobar
Patrick Wisdom’s emergence probably wiped out any interest the Cubs would have had in acquiring Davis for one of their chips.
Breaking News! This Just IN!
Michael Conforto Strikes out swinging!
he needs to be replaced. it’s that simple
Gibson, Kennedy, and Walker for Davis and Megill.
I’ve seen Megill pitch a couple of times, keep him, he’s Megood
No way you give up Megill; an oasis in a baron farm system.
Mets have no other starters signed for 2021 other than DeGrom, Walker and Cookie if he doesn’t crumble.
I would like to keep Davis. Dangle Pillar, Villar, and Guillorme instead
Pillar, Villar, and Guillorme is going to get you dog doody.
That’s how Sandy got his nickname- The Doody Daddy Dangler
He’s not just the worst defensive player I’ve watched in MLB today, he’s the worst I remember in recent history. I saw him lollipop a throw from 3B to 2B to start a double play, that not only didn’t get the batter at 1st on the relay throw – the baserunner on 1st beat his throw to 2nd…..and…..he did the exact same thing a few nights later. He drops grounders, misplays fly balls and pop-ups, etc. What he does on defense changes the momentum of a game, and dispirits his teams pitcher……
But the man can hit.
The Astros got rid of him because he couldn’t play D.
Now, two words – Nelson Cruz.
Mr. Davis can have a long career as a DH. While I don’t see the NL going to the DH in 2022, they may in time. Meanwhile, at a time when the average MLB BA is somewhere in the .230’s (the last I heard) there are teams that have to consider him as a bat-only run producer (run producers are paid to hit, not walk). JD is only 28 and will get stronger. Taking the burden of playing defense off of him and allowing him to just concentrate on hitting will do for him what it did for Cruz – allow him to produce at a high level for years. To start, he’s perfect to replace Cruz with the Twins….Royals if Solar leaves….the Rangers, etc.
Maybe teams should ask about Nimmo as well that way they might get a combined full time player out of the pair.
I’d rather Davis than Story. Bryant could work out. Davis is hitting well enough to make up for errors.
Would be really dumb for the Mets to trade Davis. The DH is coming to the NL. It’s inevitable. There will be room for Davis on their roster, and he will probably be one of the best DHs in the majors. They desperately need his bat.
Alonso will DH.
I’d rather see Davis DH. Dom is serviceable in left and Alonso is actually pretty good at first. Davis is a liability on the field
Absolutely I cringe when I see a ball go his way.
Best DH’s? I can not agree. He doesn’t stay healthy and has 1 good season. Also need a better fielder even if DH bc you have to let Alonso DH sometimes and let Dom DH
Davis and a few minor leaguers for Bryant. Get it done Mets.
Brodie isn’t the GM anymore
K kim, knizer, angel rodon and edmundo Sosa for davis?
Do the Mets really need to go all in this year? I think they should trade for small pieces then wait until the winter. Let Conforto walk, keep/trade Davis depending on the DH and go from there
Mets CANNOT drive in runs..
Facts-really struggle with RISP it’s hard to watch tbh
@No big deal I totally agree that is why I would have been happy with Tyler Anderson for 2 low level prospects that he got in trade and be done with it.
And other small pieces…
No big deal, I agree completely except that I’d keep Conforto if he comes cheap
Bryant will be Mets third base.
Be major upgrade imo
I gotta ask again, how much of the future are you willing to give up for a rental? Which prospects? I’d say not much cuz I don’t think Bryant is that massive of an upgrade anyway.
Another @Dan Hunter trade prediction. I don’t know who’s a bigger jinx between him and @MetFan22.
Yea I don’t understand the constant evidence-free predictions. Like, what’s the point?
I may be minority for Mets fans but I would love to trade Davis while he has some value.
I agree but only for the right value
Why? Nobody is giving up anything close to JD Davis for deadline help. Why should we give up more than a Palmer or Butto?
They’re saying the Mets are in the running for Berrios. I wonder if they are trying Davis+ for Berrios/Donaldson
I doubt it.
Hi Steve,
I think there’s a spelling error. Between the word ‘although’ & ‘also’, it should be ‘they’ not ‘the’, unless I’m wrong.
“(although ‘the’ also have both Dominic Smith and Alonso, so they certainly have first base/DH options elsewhere on the roster)”.
Enough!!!! Remember Steve Cohen’s first press conference? He said he would like a Championship in 3-5 years. This team has been playing, with grit and ground out wins . Even if we make the playoffs, we aren’t advancing. Wait to the off season Sandy will make some deals and don’t forget Steve’s pocket is very deep.. Besides , why get rentals now it won’t help in the long run