The Oakland Athletics have added some pop to their lineup, acquiring left fielder Khris Davis in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The A’s have acquired OF Khris Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for RHP Bubby Derby and C Jacob Nottingham.
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) February 12, 2016
The deal was originally reported by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, who’s also reporting that Davis will be the A’s primary left fielder.
Davis is a definite home run threat and should slot in somewhere in the middle of the A’s lineup. He’s never had more than 501 at-bats in a single season but has topped 20 home runs twice in three MLB seasons. In 2015, injuries kept Davis to only 392 at-bats, but he still bombed a career high 27 homers.
The right-handed hitting slugger has actually had slightly more success batting against right-handed pitching .254/.320/.493) than he has against lefties (.238/.303/.495).
This move confirms what we already knew for the Brewers — they’re rebuilding. Jacob Nottingham is a huge catcher, listed at 6’3, 230 pounds. He has a solid .284/.352/.452 slash line, but will be 21 in April and has never played above A-ball, while Bubba Derby hasn’t even reached that level.
The trade will almost certainly open up a starting spot in the outfield for 23-year-old Domingo Santana.
Given that Milwaukee is certainly in a rebuilding mode, it would not be at all surprising if they dealt other veteran stars (Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, Matt Garza, Will Smith) before the Aug. 1 deadline.