The New York Yankees made an announcement on Sunday that they have traded for veteran corner infielder J.D. Davis from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league infielder Jordan Groshans. Davis was recently designated for assignment by the Athletics, and according to Major League Baseball rules, teams have five days to trade a DFA player before they are submitted to waivers. Davis, who is 31 years old, played in 39 games with the Athletics, hitting .236/.304/.366 with four home runs and five RBIs. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets, where he had a productive stint with the Giants, hitting 26 home runs over the course of 193 games. However, the Giants released Davis before the current season began, and he subsequently signed with the Athletics.
The addition of Davis to the Yankees roster comes at a good time, as they recently lost two key players in Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton to injuries. Davis is expected to play at both corner infield positions and serve as a designated hitter for the Yankees. He might even have the opportunity to play against his former team, the Mets, in the Subway Series this week. It’s important to note that Davis will be a free agent at the end of the season.
On the other side of the trade, 24-year-old Jordan Groshans was traded from the Yankees to the Athletics. Groshans was the No. 12 pick in the 2018 draft but has seen his stock drop significantly, with a .590 OPS in 50 minor-league games this season. He is not expected to make a major impact for the Athletics and will likely serve as organizational depth.