Davis gets $33.75M extension
OAKLAND, Calif. — At spring training, Khris Davis expressed his desire to stay with the A’s on a long-term contract. He wants to build something special in Oakland, while keeping up his remarkable home run pace.
Davis now has the new deal he so wanted, after patiently waiting for it to get done.
Davis’ contract, announced by the team Thursday, takes him through the 2021 season. The deal adds $33.75 million for 2020 and 2021, which increased Davis’ guarantee to $50.25 million over three years, a person familiar with the agreement told The AP.
Davis hit a majors-best 48 home runs last season while setting a career high with 123 RBIs, helping send the 97-win A’s back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. He’s leading the majors again with 10 home runs so far this season and is batting .260 with 20 RBIs.
“I never think he’s cold, I don’t care if he’s striking out, I don’t care if he’s getting out,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said Tuesday.“ had some success last series against him but I never take that for granted. He’s one swing away from changing the entire complexion of any game.”
Following two straight slow free-agent markets, Davis joined Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Xander Bogaerts and Aaron Hicks in agreeing to a long-term deal and foregoing open bidding after theWorld Series.
Gerrit Cole, Madison Bumgarner, Didi Gregorius and Anthony Rendon top the potential freeagent group for now.
Diamondbacks: Rookie ChristianWalker hit a tworun HR in the seventh inning, RHP Luke Weaver got off to a good start and the Diamondbacks beat the Braves 4-1 in Atlanta to complete a three-game sweep. Walker lined the opposite-field HR to rightcenter off Chad Sobotka following a single by Adam Jones. ItwasWalker’s sixth HR — all in the seventh inning or later. Walker added adouble inthe ninth and is hitting .619 (13-for-21) after the sixth inning. Weaver (1-1) struck out nine in five scoreless innings, fanning the last five batters he faced. He allowed four hits. The Diamondbacks have won four straight, including their first sweep of the Braves since 2016.
Giants: LHP Patrick Corbin took a one-hitter into the eighth in his first victory with the Nationals, Wilmer Difo homered and the Nationals beat the punchless Giants 4-2 in Washington. Signed to a six-year, $140 million contract in December after pitching for six seasons with the Diamondbacks, Corbin started three games without a decision for his new team before throwing a gem in the deciding matchup of a three-game series. Corbin (1-0) struck out nine, walked one and a hit a batter over 72⁄ innings against a struggling Giants offense that came in with a .208 average.
Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos had three hits and drove in a pair of runs and the Tigers beat the White Sox 9-7 in Detroit to end a five-game losing streak. Grayson Greiner had a careerthree hits and two RBIs for the Tigers. Miguel Cabrera, playing on his 36th birthday, also drove in a pair of runs to help the Tigers set season highs for runs and hits (14). With the score tied at 7, Greiner led off the eighth with a single and moved up when Carson Fulmer (0-1) hit both JaCoby Jones and JoshHarrisonwith pitches. Castellanos and Cabrera put the Tigers ahead with back-to-back sacrifice flies. Drew VerHagen (1-0) picked up the victory after recording the last out of the eighth. Shane Greene pitched the ninth for his ninth save in nine attempts.
Blue Jays: Randal Grichuk, Justin Smoak and Teoscar Hernandez homered to help the Blue Jays beat the Twins 7-4 in Minneapolis. Eric Sogard added a three-run double for the Blue Jays, who won three of four games in the series. Eddie Rosario homered twice for the Twins. Four Blue Jays relievers combined to allow one run in 31⁄ innings. Ken Giles earned his sixth save in sevenchances with a scoreless ninth. Michael Pineda (2-1) had his worst start of the season, allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 32⁄ innings.
Extra innings: Red Sox four-time All-Star 2B Dustin Pedroia didn’t sustain a serious injury during Wednesday’s game against theYankees, but he stillwas placed on the 10-day IL with what the Red Sox classified as “left knee irritation.” ... The White Sox placed starterLucas Giolito on the 10-day IL after he strained his hamstring during Wednesday’s game against the Royals. The 24-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.30 ERA over four starts.