The last time the third baseman J.D. Davis was with the Mets team, it did not go well. But now he is a free agent after being released by the Giants, and the Mets are at least showing interest in bringing him back.
Davis was traded to San Francisco in 2022 and performed reasonably well for a year and a half. He had a batting line of .248/.325/.413 with the Giants in 2023, appearing in 144 games and hitting 18 home runs. However, when the Giants had the opportunity to upgrade with Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman, they tried to trade Davis.
A deal did not materialize, so the Giants simply released him.
The Mets, with an uncertain situation at third base, are said to have talked with Davis about joining the team as a right-handed hitter capable of playing third base, which is something the Mets are looking for.
“The Mets have yet to bring someone in with that profile, it makes some sense that they would explore the possibility of a reunion with J.D. Davis,” according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. “League sources confirmed that the Mets have talked with Davis, whose presence would fit from a roster construction standpoint but also raise questions about New York’s young internal options at third base.”
Mets Only Have Young Options at 3B
The Mets were hoping that young prospect Ronny Mauricio would compete for the third baseman position in 2024, but a torn ACL while playing in the Dominican Republic is likely to keep him out for the whole season as he recovers.
Instead, the Mets currently have third baseman Brett Baty occupying the position. Baty is 24 and has shown potential as a hitter in the minor leagues, but struggled last season and was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse. He hit 11 home runs in 119 games, but batted .210 with a .272 on-base percentage for the year. Despite his struggles, Baty was a first-round pick, so the Mets are eager for him to secure the role.
The other option is another inexperienced 24-year-old, Mark Vientos. He batted .211 in 65 games last season and had a rough start in Spring Training this year. However, he has improved recently, with four hits and two home runs in his last four games.
JD Davis Was Not Happy With the Mets
Both options for the Mets are uncertain. Davis may not be a star, but he has a reliable glove and an average bat. Perhaps returning to New York could reignite his outstanding season in 2019, when he batted .310 and hit 22 home runs in his first season with the Mets.
However, the Mets struggled to find a consistent position for Davis, and the team went through multiple managers and coaches while Davis switched between third base, the outfield, and first base, never quite finding his comfort zone. This led to him becoming dissatisfied with his role on the team.
“I had to figure it out on my own,” he told The Athletic in July 2023. “We want to put our best selves forward and perform at our best. You have the ability to help us prepare. I’m a big preparer. If you give me 24 hours to prepare, ‘This is what you’re doing tomorrow,’ that’s greatly appreciated.
“I feel anxious when I come to the field because I need to make sure everything is correct, and I need to practice playing in left field and at third base. In a couple of hours, I'll find out which position I'll be playing.”
