Former Giant Davis agrees to deal with A's
Third baseman J.D. Davis has agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics just days after he was released by San Francisco.
Davis can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical.
Davis, who turns 31 next month, was cut by the Giants on Monday after beating the team last month in salary arbitration. He was entitled to just over $1.1
million in termination pay rather than a $6.9 million salary.
Davis hit .248 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs last year with the Giants, who obtained him from the New York Mets in August 2022.
He also plays first base and outfield, but he became expendable when the Giants agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract with third baseman Matt Chapman.
ALEXANDER LIKELY OUT FOR OPENING DAY >> Oakland A's left-handed reliever Scott Alexander is unlikely to pitch again this spring as he recovers from a stress reaction in his rib cage, manager Mark Kotsay told reporters Friday.
Alexander, a nine-year veteran who joined the A's this offseason from the Giants, has not pitched since March 6 and gave up eight earned runs over 2.1 innings (three appearances) early in spring.
He was set to be the A's top lefty out of the bullpen after signing a one-year deal. Sean Newcomb, who arrived via trade from the Giants last August, is the only other left-handed reliever on the team's active roster, though Hogan Harris and minor-leaguer Brady Basso are on the 40-man.
Newcomb played most of his seven-year MLB career for the Braves and appeared in seven games for the A's last season, allowing five runs over 15 innings. He has pitched in two games this spring after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his left knee last September.
FELIPE HAS SURGERY >> Angel Felipe, who appeared in 14 games last year out of the bullpen for the A's, underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss all of the 2024 season.
Felipe had not pitched at all this spring. He arrived last June after the A's claimed him off waivers from the Padres and allowed seven runs over 15 innings pitched between July and August.
YENKEES MUM ON COLE
>> Yankees manager Aaron Boone held off discussing the condition of ace Gerrit Cole's elbow, saying he and general manager Brian Cashman want to speak with the AL Cy Young Award winner before making any public comments. Cole was experiencing issues in bouncing back following spring training starts, and the 33-yearold traveled to Los Angeles to be examined by Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Cole was traveled back to Tampa on Friday.
Boone did say Friday that Nestor Cortes will start the March 28 opener at Houston.
MARMOL EXTENSION >> The St. Louis Cardinals announced a two-year contract extension through 2026 for manager Oliver Marmol. The 37-year-old led the team to an NL Central title in his first season, winning 93 games in 2022 and becoming the youngest manager to reach the playoffs since a 31-year-old Lou Boudreau took Cleveland to the World Series in 1946. St. Louis went 71-91 last year.