Closing time
Wade Davis’ repertoire is devastatingly effective.
The Rockies’ new $52 million closer can grip it and rip it when he needs to because his 95 mph four-seam fastball generates plenty of swings and misses. His 91 to 93 mph cutter, with its deceptive, late-breaking action, leaves frustrated batters shaking their heads. His 83 mph breaking ball, thrown with a knuckle-curve grip, buckles knees.
All of that has made Davis one of baseball’s premier relievers. Over the past four seasons, the right-hander has an ERA of 1.45, with just nine home runs allowed and 313 strikeouts in 241L innings. Pitching for the Cubs last season, his strikeout rate of 12.1 per nine innings was the second-best of his career. That’s why the Rockies opened the vault for Davis, paying him $17.33 million annually for the next three years, the most ever for a relief pitcher.
But there are other compelling reasons the Rockies believe the 32-year-old, three-time all-star can thrive in Colorado’s thin air. Not only is Davis tough- minded, he is a student of pitching, always looking for an edge.
Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster, who got to know Davis when Foster was Kansas City’s pitching coordinator from 201314, calls Davis “a cerebral, silent assassin.”
“Wade does all of his research,” said left-hander Jake Mcgee, who recently signed a three-year, $27 million contract to rejoin the Rockies. “Even being out there in the bullpen, he prepares just like a starter, which is how he started out. He does his research and he studies hitters.
“He knows who to pitch around and who to go after. And, of course, his stuff’s really good, so that helps out a lot.”
Mcgee was a wide-eyed, 17year-old kid when he met Davis in 2004 as teammates for the Princeton (W.VA.) Devil Rays of the Appalachian (rookie) League. Davis, a third-round draft pick by Tampa Bay out of Florida’s Lake Wales High School, was only 18.
“Even back then, Wade was quiet and professional, focused,” Mcgee said. “We kind of pushed each other. When one of us had a good Wade Davis made big-league history when he signed a threeyear, $52 million contract to pitch for the Rockies. The average of $17.33 million per season is a record for a reliever. Here is how the contract breaks down:
• 2018: $16 million
• 2019: $19 million
• 2020: $17 million
• Davis’ contract includes a $1 million buyout and a $15 million vesting option for 2021 start, that made the other one work even harder.”
Davis, who tends to credit others for his success, points to many former teammates as the source of his baseball education.
“I was around some pretty great minds in Tampa,” he said. “Whether it was James Shields or Matt Garza, I learned plenty of stuff. I remember watching Kyle Farnsworth pitching, asking him things, having him point things out. So, I was around a lot of good minds and I think that leads you in the right direction. You learn a little bit about hitters and that helps you find a couple of go-tos when you need them.”
Davis, came out high school wanting to be a major-league starter. But as his career advanced, the results were less than impressive. So the Rays ended up trying him as a reliever and as a starter.
“I didn’t really get to make any of those choices, actually,” Davis said. “It was, ‘Hey, go do this,’ and you really don’t have any choice.”
In December 2012, Tampa Bay traded him to Kansas City. He pitched in 31 games for the Royals in 2013, 24 of which were starts. The results weren’t good: a 5.32 ERA, lower average velocity, and 58 walks and 15 home runs allowed in just 135L innings.the following season, when setup man Luke Hochevar needed Tommy John surgery, the Royals converted Davis into a full-time reliever. It was a turning point.
Utilizing his starter’s knowledge, combined with a new role that allowed him to cut loose, Davis blossomed. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Davis posted a 0.97 ERA in 140 games and helped lead the Royals to two World Series berths and one championship. It was the first time in big-league history that a reliever who pitched more than 100 innings across two seasons posted an ERA under 1.00. As a reliever, Davis’ fastball heated up — and his curveball and cutter made him nearly invincible.
His work in the 2015 playoffs was a masterpiece, concluding with the Royals’ World Series victory over the Mets in five games. Davis appeared in eight of the Royals’ 11 playoff wins, not allowing a run over 10M innings. He pitched more than one inning three times, and struck out 18 batters while walking only three.
Davis’ reputation as a late-game enforcer was cast that October.
“(He’s) a guy who’s taken very seriously when he comes into the game,” said Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich. “If you’re the opposition and you see Wade Davis coming in, just like Greg Holland and other top closers, those guys are taken seriously. The other team knows that they have it in for them to try to win that game that night.
“It’s a big thing for a team with playoff aspirations, and hopefully it’s a good thing for the organization for a number of years with Wade.”
But it’s not just pitching acumen that convinced the Rockies to invest so much faith and money in Davis, it also was his toughness and resilience. In the Cubs’ 9-8 victory over Washington in Game 5 of a National League division series last fall, Davis finished the
2004-09: Sept. 6, 2009: 2010-11: 2012:
Traded, with James Shields and a player to be named later, to Kansas City for minorleaguer Patrick Leonard, Mike Montgomery, Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi.
Used mostly as a starter by the Royals, went 8-11 with a 5.32 ERA in 31 games (24 starts). 2014-15: Became a full-time starter but then moved to closer for the Royals, posting an 0.97 ERA. Appeared in two World Series.
Suffered a right forearm injury and spent time on the disabled list, limiting him to a career-low 43L innings. Posted a 1.87 ERA.
2013: 2016:
Traded from Kansas City to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Jorge Soler.
2017: As closer for Cubs, saved 32 games in 33 chances, posting a 2.32 ERA over 58M innings.
Signed a three-year, free-agent contract with the Rockies worth $52 million.
Dec. 7, 2016: Dec. 29, 2017:
game with a seven-out save — the first seven-out save of his career.
Yes, Davis allowed a run, two hits and two walks, but he pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the top of the Nationals’ lineup to preserve the series. And he struck out slugger Bryce Harper to finish the job.
“I was sitting there watching the game with my wife, and I remember thinking, ‘This is just like in Kansas City,’ ” Foster said. “He comes to the mound and teams know that chances are, the game is over.”