A’s Slugger Khris Davis Says He Wants To Stay In Oakland

The Oakland A’s have begun Spring Training in Arizona, coming off of a shocking 97 win season in 2018. Designated hitter and utility outfielder Khris Davis has been a monstrous part of the Athletics’ success, hitting over 40 home runs in his last three seasons, including a career high 48 in 2018.

The A’s have had a history of trading away top players for multiple prospects, immediately boosting their farm system in the hopes that they can develop a young World Series threat before the payrolls get too high. However, with new management and front office changes, fans have been assured that keeping star players long term is a top priority.

48 home runs.
123 RBI.
1 outstanding player.
Khris Davis wins the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award!#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/J6B2OJ8jxK

— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) November 20, 2018

It has been a relatively quiet offseason for the A’s, who will face the tough task of trying to build upon their explosive 2018 season. While some fans are disappointed at the lack of free agent signings or pitching rotation-bolstering trades, that could all be washed away with the follow through of Billy Beane’s promise, by signing Davis to an extension.

With just a year remaining on his contract, Davis has voiced his desire to remain with the A’s club for many years to come:

“I’d like to be here. I hope something gets done,” Davis said. “It’s not a good thing being a free agent right now. For my security, it’s going to impact a lot. That’s the way the business is. I’m already 31 so I don’t know if I’m too old. There’s a lot of things that run through my head. Who knows. If it happens, it happens.”

“Shoot, I want to stay here at least three more years, but that’s a long time to be an Oakland A. But if anybody can do it, I guess it’s me, hopefully,” Davis said. “I don’t think they’ll trade me as long as we’re doing good. So we better do good so I don’t get traded.”

Just last month the A’s avoided arbitration with a one year, $16.5 million deal to keep the slugger in Oakland for at least one more year. Both sides have now made their desires for an extension known. With still a long season ahead of them, there is no immediate rush for an agreement to get done. The A’s have showed both patience and stubbornness when it comes to contract negotiations, unwilling to hogtie themselves with a potentially catastrophic financial commitment.

Davis has made it clear that longevity is more important to him than money. He is after the years not the dollars. In an interview with MLB.com he said he would be willing to settle for a salary as low as $10 million a year, far less than his numbers warrant, for a multiple year deal.

A's Khris Davis shelved with calf injury https://t.co/wEYTK4gDpY

— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) February 23, 2019

Oakland is currently withholding Davis from their Spring Training lineups due to a calf injury.

For many A’s fans, myself included, a Khris Davis extension is the last thing needed to trust this new ownership and front office group completely. Until then, skepticism reigns supreme. We will believe it when we see it.

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