The Yankees announced this afternoon that they’ve acquired infielder J.D. Davis and cash considerations from the A’s in exchange infielder Jordan Groshans. Davis had been designated for assignment by the A’s earlier this week. The Yankees transferred right-hander Nick Burdi to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Davis on the 40-man roster.
Davis, 31, signed with the A’s in late spring after the Giants released Davis during Spring Training in order to get out from under most of the $6.9MM salary he had been awarded in arbitration over the winter. He managed to secure a guarantee of just $2.5MM from Oakland, a far cry from his previously-awarded arbitration salary even after factoring in the roughly $1.1MM in termination pay he received from San Francisco.
After that late spring controversy, Davis went on to appear in 39 games with the A’s where he slashed a roughly league-average .236/.304/.366 in 135 trips to the plate while splitting time between first base, third base, and DH. While his offensive numbers this year leave something to be desired, Davis’s positional versatility and track record as an above-average hitter make him a perfect fit for the Yankees’ current needs.
The club lost starting DH Giancarlo Stanton to the injured list earlier today, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo was also placed on the shelf not long ago due to a fractured forearm. Rookie Ben Rice has scuffled a bit in his first few games replacing Rizzo at first base, while the club has no obvious alternative to Stanton as an everyday DH in-house. Even at third base, where the club is currently relying on the combination of Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu, New York has gotten a wRC+ of just 78 — this ranks second-worst of all AL third-base units, ahead of only the White Sox.
Enter Davis, who entered the 2024 season with five consecutive seasons of solid production with the Mets and Giants. Since the start of the 2019 season, Davis has slashed a solid .265/.349/.438 with a wRC+ of 118. While he’s struck out a 27.1% clip during that time, he’s walked at a healthy 10% rate while flashing 20-homer power. That sort of production would be a major upgrade for a Yankees club that has generally struggled to produce offense outside of the outfield this year even before losing Stanton for at least the short-term. Davis seems likely to slide into the everyday DH role for the Yankees while Stanton is unavailable, but could also spell Rice at first base against left-handed pitching and even contribute at third alongside LeMahieu and Cabrera.
On days where Davis is playing the infield, the Yankees could offer Aaron Judge or Juan Soto the opportunity to get a half-day of rest as a DH and improve the club’s outfield defense by inserting glove-first center fielder Trent Grisham into the mix. When Stanton eventually returns to reclaim regular DH, the Yankees could pick and choose from Davis, Rice, Cabrera, and LeMahieu based on how everyone is performingt. That being said, if Davis can even maintain his production as an Athletic in the Bronx he should be a shoe-in for at least semi-regular playing time around the Yankees infield even after Stanton’s eventual return.
In exchange for Davis’ services, the Yankees are sending Groshans to Oakland. The 24-year-old’s stint in the Yankees organization was a relatively brief one, as the club claimed him off waivers from the Marlins back in February. He was outrighted off their 40-man roster in early March and has struggled to this point in the 2024 season with a .232/.310/.281 slash line while playing all four infield spots in 50 games split between the Double- and Triple-A levels. That follows a similarly rough performance at Triple-A with Miami last year; in 528 plate appearances across 125 games in 2023, Groshans slashed a paltry .244/.339/.330 with just six home runs.
Despite Groshans’ struggles over the past two seasons, it’s not hard to see why the A’s would be willing to give the youngster a shot. After all, the infielder was the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Blue Jays and received plenty of top prospect buzz earlier in his career, including a stint as a consensus top-50 prospect in the sport back in 2021. That pedigree combined with Groshans’ stronger numbers at the Double-A level earlier in his career provide some reason for optimism that he could contribute at the big league level at some point.
That possibility is surely an attractive one for an Oakland club that has struggled to find a consistent option at third base this year while cycling between Davis, Abraham Toro, and Tyler Nevin at the position. Toro will be out until at least the All-Star break recovering from a hamstring strain, leaving even more opportunity for Groshans to win some playing time at the hot corner.
Watch, he’s going to start smashing homers in New York
Your lips to God’s ears!
Amen!
More likely to smash the water cooler after striking out or making a key error.
I just hope we’re not going to get millions of articles and questions on the chat on this boy wunderkind who’s been dfa’d twice this year.
He will last on the roster as long as Stanton is sidelined and likely not much longer. He still has no defensive home and no real fit on the roster once Stanton returns.
Gare: Strongly disagree. Rice can’t hit lefties and 3rd base has been a black hole. If he can just play to the back of his card he’ll be incredibly useful for the Yankees.
in the last 72 hours rice more than held his own against 2 of the toughest lefties in mlb
JD will be useful until Jon Bert is healthy. Did anyone notice how the roster space was crated? Forever-injured P Nick Burdi was transferred to the 60 day IL. Another failed Cashman dumpster dive.
*Berti
* created
Well, he provided 12 games and 9.1 innings of 1.86 ERA ball this year. Seems like the talent was worth the gamble when they are virtually paying him league minimum ($800k per bref).
I hope he turns into Don Mattingly but his track record is that he struggles against lefties. Either way I’m pro Rice and Davis. We need Dh help, help at 3rd, and someone not named Legroundout to backup 1st.
Ctbronx: I think Waldo or Jones need to worry about a healthy Burti, not Davis. Hammering on Cash for Nick Burdi is laughable. The move was already a minor success as Burdi’s innings are in the ledger. It’s a hip injury presently, if he comes back we have his high octane stuff, if not thanks for the .3 WAR and good luck!
A Berti in the hand beats two on the DL.
Cashman’s “dumpster dives” have paid off in the past, especially in the bullpen. And they don’t cost you much of anything so they’re worth a try.
agree 100%
JD is a much better player than what he’s shown this year thus far. I’ll bet he rebounds with the Yanks.
Who had Darin Ruf as the platoon DH big trade deadline move in 2022 for the Lol Mets?
Okay so we’re now bringing up random trivia from 2022 for no apparent reason whatsoever weeeeeee
Well, because Davis was part of the return to the Giants for Ruff. So, not entirely NO reason, but still irrelevant.
If he does while he may be out about 4 million at the end of the day, he will be in a much better position to contend then he could have seen at the beginning of the offseason.
Let’s hope you’re way way off and the overrated, overpaid Yankees continue to offer up choke jobs for yet one more year.
What is it? ‘ONE’ World Series Championship in the last 20+ years? I think it’s one.
When you consider the money they have, year in and year out, to spend on payroll, it’s an embarrassment, a joke.
I wouldn’t be suprised to see a 270-15-50 line from here out.
If he can hit the ball past the infield dirt it would be an improvement over what DJL is currently providing. Granted, DJ still has decent defense.
Once his chin is all smooth and cleaned up he’ll start to rake.
Shave that face, boy!
That’s so damn ridiculous of the Yankees.
I would be shocked if he did half of what you suggest Texas.
“Half of what you suggest”…The Yankees aren’t bringing in J.D to carry them to the playoffs. They’re bringing in J.D to add depth and experience to the corner infield. JD will likely not be playing enough to put up any real numbers.
He’s gonna be an above average bench bat (and starter when against lefty starters) and help the yanks on their title push
Even Stevie Wonder saw this transaction coming… especially after Stanton’s injury. (which Stevie also saw coming!)
Stevie saw it with his own two eyes while seeing Stanton round 3rd
@Dogleg Stevie Wonder happens to shoot hoops at the community park across the street so I just asked him if he saw that Davis signing coming and he said “naw”.
You mean one and done in playoffs
I mean he’s a body, and can maybe replicate his numbers from 2023, plus Yankees only have to pay the league minimum, and if he flounders at the plate, they can cut him with no real monetary loss…
I believe because they acquired him through a trade they are now responsible for his salary, or did Oakland agree to pay the rest of it?
I see cash considerations. Who knows how much that could be.
My mistake, I just assumed since Oakland DFA’D Davis, that the Yankees had claimed him. My apologies, but you’re correct cash considerations is part of the deal, but as you said that’s unclear how much Oakland is sending to the Yankees.
It would be my guess the Yankees are paying league minimum for him. It’s what they would pay if they waited for him to clear. They just gave a low level prospect to guarantee they got him.
Weird that the “cash poor” A’s is giving money to the “cash rich” Yankees
Why? He was under contract with the A’s.
@CALgoldenBears et al…
Strange drugs in the Oakland water. Astounded they DFA a guy they’re paying more than league minimum. I don’t doubt the players are trying, I despise the FO and ownership. Regardless of MHO, every recent A’s/Yankees trade since Sonny Gray have been mutual stinkers… Doubt this one will differ….
“a low level prospect”? more like low level “suspect” they got Groshans for free (was DFA by Marlins) and the Yankees also DFA’ed him to outright him to the minors
CAL, if Davis had gone unclaimed on dfa waivers the a’s would still have been on the hook for his salary less pro-rate league minimum once he signed elsewhere (which he almost certainly would have). Without a specific number for the cash sent by the a’s nobody can be certain of this but I’d say it’s at least plausible that the a’s saved a bit of coin in this deal with the yanks and got a younger controlled player, with a hint of remaining upside who can be a body at 3rd now that Davis is gone. Beats the alternative every which way.
Even with out cash coming from the A’s his salary is 2.5, and half way through the season it’s probably around 1.25 million owed. League minimum at this point in the season would be 370k so they are on the hook for 900k minus what ever the A’s are sending back. I’m guessing they can afford to take a flyer at that price.
Should have said 900k more than league minimum minus what’s coming from the A’s, they would still be paying him the total 1.25 minus what’s coming from Oakland.
the Giants are paying the salary because they released him, Oakland was paying prorated league minimum & that moves on to the Yankees – maybe the cash considerations pay the rest & the Yankees aren’t adding any salary
28 rings, no the giants are not paying davis’ 2024 salary. When they cut ties with Davis at the 11th hour they paid out severance money (debateably) according to the terms of the cba governing arbitration process and contracts. The deal Davis subsequently signed with Oakland was a free agent deal as it would have been if the giants had simply non-tendered him rather than getting into shenanigans with the arb process once they made the late sign of chapman.
Ok so Giants paid him $1,112,903 when they lost the arbitration hearing rather than paying him $6.9 million. The A’s signed him to a new contract for $2.5 million. Paid him $1,169,355 of that money and gave the Yankees $927,312 in cash. So Yankees are paying the remaining $403,353
Oakland should have asked for Peraza. Yankees brought up Peraza today just to put him back down to make room for Davis. #FreePeraza
How do you know they didn’t?
Peraza? Guy has not shown his ability to hit MLB pitching.
Once profiled as a future star, his best possible outcome is as a Jorge Mateo/extra infielder type.
I’d imagine the a’s asked for other players, possibly peraza before settling for groshans. They didn’t have much leverage in this situation though. The Yankees were in a position to hold the line and just tell Oakland that they would take their chances on claiming davis if Oakland didn’t take their best offer.
Potential to be a very good fit. Davis needs to re-focus and be happy he’s in a terrific short term situation.
Great move by the Yankees. They are going to have some lineup
Glad all you were looking for was “some.” Likely he will contribute to being part of “a” lineup. But they did get “some” body.
Good pickup. Was hoping the RS would get him.
Me as well- he would at least be better than Dominic Smith offensively.
dbacks missed out. Suarez has been bad. He would have fit right in
Eh, Alexander is likely a better option than Davis going forward; hopefully Torey squeezes him in at 3B more with Suarez’s struggles. The kid needs more reps in the field.
Solid under the radar move by Cashman once again. Will pay dividends throughout the rest of this season
Unless, of course, he doesn’t.
you must be fun at parties
Not really, but you would know that if you got invited.
Jordan Groshans # 1 pick in the dreaded 2018 draft where my A’s got nothing . Anyway this is his 4th organization maybe he can find someway to become Randy Velarde , or not .
There is still time for breakouts, but you are right that the 2018 draft is not looking like it is going to be a very good one at all. Possibly one of the worst ever when all is said and done, but as I said there is still loads of time.
This is exactly what the Pirates needed to inject a little bit of power into that lineup and replace Rowdy Roddy Tellez and his black hole of a bat.
Another dismal offensive day and they let another guy who has the ability to hit pass by.
Ghost: He would have injected a very little bit of power, about as much as Bobby Bonilla would. And Bonilla is 61 years old.
“I’ll hurt you. I’ll show you The Bronx.”
But way cheaper than what the Mets are paying Bonilla
Not really. The Mets are paying Bobby Bo about $1.1 million a year.
Depending on the amount coming back JD will come at 1.25 so it actually may be the same ironically
Even though it’s a completely meaningless comparison.
The Yanks have no shot beating Baltimore with Jahmai Jones starting games. JD is a good option
The Astros just did the Yankees a favor with a weekend sweep of the O’s. Still think Bombers “have no shot beating Baltimore”?
They are easily postseason bound but I still think they’re playing over their heads. I think Baltimore is the better team.
Let’s hope this JD works out better than the last one.
To paraphrase Cashman, “No disrespect to Gio Urshela, but he’s not Josh Donaldson.”
At least played hardball with Snell and Montgomery this past off-season, so he’s learned from it it seems.
Cashman hasn’t learned his lesson about trading with the A’s yet?
trading for A’s PITCHERS… trading for A’s HITTERS (Scott Brosius, Rickey Henderson, Roger Maris, Clete Boyer) is another story
Cashman traded for Maris? Wow he’s been around a while
I like JD but he is what he is, a replacement level player with a spurt or two of good runs with the bat. Think drury whose a better defender to jd who is a better bat. I think they are even the same age.
Bring back Bird !!!
Why not !!!!
He’s doing great in the Mexican league
Davis is just another retread who will contribute minimally
Bird has an OPS of 1.073!
Yes. Hitting against guys who are landscapers and tradesman.
beg to differ about ben rice scuffling
the defense is a work in progress but he’s putting together great at-bats
I agree, if DJLM can’t get it going I would rather see Rice hit against LHP than him.
Easy answer at 3rd base for Oakland: TORO! TORO! TORO! Good skills give him a final chance to thrive or sentence him to the Kingdom of Never Weres!
I am a Big Ben Davis fan
Teams that don’t give young players a chance never win the WS
Who’s Ben Davis? If you mean the catcher, he last played in 2004.
THAT Ben Davis is now one of the Phillies crew of TV analysts.
The Spankees loooosssee! Bahaha!
Cooper
Not the type of comment that bodes well for you ever making an interesting comment
Adios
I hate the Yankees. But I hope this guy wins the World Series. Giants Front Office screwed him. Keep fighting JD
Guy’s gonna rake!
Right, because he’s going to pull double duty working on the grounds crew.
JD has not hit in a year
second half in 2923 was horrible and he just didn’t seem to have much this year. bat looked slow
he will play hard and give all he has but doesn’t seem he has much left
injuries did effect second half of 23 and first 2 months of 24 but he stopped hitting the ball hard
@A’s Fan
Someone is from the future. How’s life in 2923? What new rules exist in MLB or is it even recognizable anymore?
Jordan Groshans #12 in that god awful 2018 draft where the A’s got nothing for their draft pick . Now we got a damn near invisible player from the Yankees AA team . I can’t wait to have this team out Oakland . Maybe they can lose some of that stink from Oakland . At least it will be the last time I hear some Oakland loser yell “ Let’s go Oakland “ from the stands . To get rid of those moron I’d see the A’s play in a Walmart parking lot in Tucumcari .
Jordan Groshans, Another high draft pick of shapiro , that failed…The List gets Bigger !!
FIRE shapiro ….!!
Rob Refsnyder can play 1st. And 2nd, and OF and hit 60 home runs.
Every time I see this guys face I think Emilio Estevez
Didn’t know Stanton was on the DL. Guess it’s that time of the year.
Groshans headed to AA Midland
Not a Yankee fan but I gotta tip my hat to them for taking a flier on JD. Get his head straight from being dumped by Bay area and they’ll have a very good cheap bat who can play 1b/3b. (Don’t try him in the OF… that’s a mess) Good luck JD… welcome back to NY!
Stanton going down is predictable. Every year whenever the team needs him to step up. DL he goes.
Please please please please please get rid of him. And Give rice the job. When visual comes back keep them within the organization beyond the end of the year in a coaching capacity if we can convince him