MLB Rumors: Cardinals show interest in free agent Chris Davis
Do the Cardinals have their eye on Chris Davis?
It is being reported on Friday that the St. Louis Cardinals have legitimate interest in free agent Chris Davis and have contacted his agent Scott Boras regarding his availability. The former Baltimore Oriole led all of baseball in home runs with 47 this past year, the second time he has topped the Majors in the category the past three years.
It is a logical interest for the Cardinals, who despite topping MLB in wins a year ago with 100, ranked 11th in the National League in team home runs with 137. Over the past four years since Albert Pujols departed for the Anaheim Angels, the team has finished within the top 10 in the NL in home runs only once, in 2012.
The first base position was one of regular turnover in St. Louis a year ago. Opening day first baseman Matt Adams was sidelined for much of the season with a severe quad injury. Mark Reynolds and trade deadline acquisition Brandon Moss spent time there later in the year, while outfield prospect Stephen Piscotty learned the position on the job towards the end of the season.
Finding a mainstay would be a certain upgrade for general manager John Mozeliak, and “Crush” easily represents that. Davis would represent a sizable upgrade at the plate, and also has the allure of being able to contribute at multiple positions, having played first base, third base and some corner outfield as well last season. Davis, who will turn 30 a month before the 2016 season starts, could contribute in a number of fashions for a Cardinals team who could see changes across its starting outfield and first base position over the next few seasons.
As is the case for any Boras client, negotiations with Davis could be an arduous process, and the Cardinals do have other affairs to address as well. Both Jason Heyward and John Lackey are on the free agent market, and the team is expected to continue negotiations with both, despite them turning down qualifying offers a week ago. MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes estimates that a deal for Davis could reach $144 MM, and reach as many as six years.
The Cardinals as an organization have been notoriously careful in how they approach the free agent market, protective of funds and the loss of draft picks that premier free agents bring. Davis turned down the Orioles qualifying offer a week ago and his signing will come at the cost of his new team’s first round pick.
However, they are expected to break from their standard form this off season, as they will be armed with the proceeds of a new billion dollar television deal, one that team owner Bill DeWitt II has stated will tie into increases on the team’s payroll for the next season. Other marquee free agents the team has been tied to recently have included David Price, Jordan Zimmermann and Ben Zobrist.
Davis represents the lone true premier option at first base on the open market this year and is the rare elite power hitter to be openly available on the market, the bidding should be expected to reach the expected heights that Boras likely foresees.