Chris Davis is now a free agent after leading the MLB in home runs this past season. The former first baseman/outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles is bound to garner plenty of interest on the open market as the offseason progresses, and we've narrowed down his potential destinations to three teams for 2016.
Davis, 29, batted .262/.361/.562 with 100 runs scored, 47 home runs and 117 RBI in 160 games this past season and the timing couldn't have come better in his contract year. MLBTradeRumors.com projected a six-year, $144 million contract for him, which certainly eliminates a lot of MLB teams that cannot afford such an investment.
The Orioles will reportedly make a push for Davis, but there's a good chance another club out-bids them as there's a need for left-handed power throughout the MLB. Davis' ability to play first base and right field also make him more valuable and he'll likely be a cheaper option than Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton.
Let's take a look at where the free agent might land in 2016.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals will have outfielder Jason Heyward hit the open market and the 26-year-old is projected to earn a contract upwards of 10 years and $200 million. If that's the case, depending on the average annual salary and opt-out clause, it's more than likely St. Louis backs off considering the largest contract in the history of their franchise belongs to Matt Holliday (seven years, $120 million).
Additionally, their cast of young outfielders (Randal Grichuk, Stephen Piscotty) proved they are capable of performing at the MLB level. With that being said, Holliday will hit free agency after 2016 (assuming the Cardinals reject his $17 million team option for 2017) and they'll have an opening in the outfield.
Davis would be a sensible fit with the Cardinals because they could use someone in right field or at first base (not entirely sure if they're sold on Matt Adams/Brandon Moss at first base). St. Louis lacked power in 2015 and posted a .716 OPS as a team, which was good for 19th in the MLB. They also ranked 24th in runs scored, and they won't be able to rely on all-around dominant performances from their pitching staff over the next couple of years in the NL Central.
The Cards are not known to spend big in free agency, but acquiring Davis would really help them both offensively and defensively (if he plays first base) as the Cubs and Pirates continue to fight for supremacy atop the division.
2. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox don't need any more outfielders, but they do need a first baseman. They claim Hanley Ramirez is going to move there, but that's laughable. Travis Shaw is a first baseman, but there's been chatter about him moving to third base, which is where he's been getting reps this offseason.
Of course, that's assuming president Dave Dombrowski can work his magic and somehow unload the contracts of Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible.
That would allow Boston to sign Davis, which would help them in many ways. He would add more consistent power, provide solid defense at first and would be a great DH option on any given night if John Farrell wanted to tinker with the lineup. Additionally, Davis has spent the past five years in the AL East, so he's familiar with a lot of the pitching in the division.
It's believed Dombrowski will figure out a way to trade for a starter to bolster the starting rotation because this year's high-profile arms are expected to cost a lot of years and money, so perhaps he looks to spend the team's allotted funds on another left-handed power bat in Davis, who would have a field day blasting home runs in Fenway Park.
1. Cleveland Indians
Believe it or not, I feel Cleveland is actually the biggest threat to land Davis. A number of the big market MLB teams (Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Giants) that might be interested in the slugger are in danger of hitting the luxury tax threshold if they add another enormous contract without moving existing money on their payrolls.
So that leaves us with the Indians, who are in need of a first baseman and perhaps even a right fielder if Lonnie Chisenhall's defense doesn't further improve this offseason. Cleveland has $41 million committed to 2016 and that's expected to increase to just $63 million when they settle arbitration with a number of their eligible players.
Cleveland shed the onerous salaries of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn in a trade with the Atlanta Braves and now their highest paid player for 2016 will be Carlos Santana at $8.25 million. Their 18th ranked offense could use some help, and who better than Davis to come to the rescue? Nobody has more home runs over the past four seasons than the 29-year-old and it's even possible his price goes down because of his strikeout woes (led MLB with 208 in 2015) as well as his awful 2014 campaign during which he posted a .196/.300/.404 stat line in 127 games.
The Indians made the playoffs in 2013, but missed the postseason in each of the past two years by a combined 7.5 games. With an improved pitching staff and a solid lineup coming back in 2016, it couldn't hurt to spend money and add a power hitter in order to pose a bigger threat in the AL Central.
They have the money to do it, and if they also trade for Marlins' OF Marcell Ozuna, their offense could emerge as one of the best in the AL if all the pieces come together.
