Should Khris Davis be traded?

[Fear The Chorizo]

I think Davis does get dealt this offseason, to make room for a younger (and more talented) left fielder in Domingo Santana. If the Brewers can get something of value in a deal, they should pull the trigger. If he's on the roster next season, it's likely as a 4th OF option again, and one that's limited to playing in LF only...not a very valuable asset for the Brewers' MLB team.

[Point Beer Is Best]

I think Davis does get dealt this offseason, to make room for a younger (and more talented) left fielder in Domingo Santana. If the Brewers can get something of value in a deal, they should pull the trigger. If he's on the roster next season, it's likely as a 4th OF option again, and one that's limited to playing in LF only...not a very valuable asset for the Brewers' MLB team.

 

I think if Davis gets dealt, it's very possible that Braun is moved back to LF and Santana plays RF. Reports seem to indicate the Santana's best OF position would be RF with his arm.

 

I agree that if Santana takes over a starting position and it pushes Davis to a 4th OF, he loses a lot of his value. A 4th OF that can only play LF isn't very valuable. Davis can really only play LF and DH.

 

The other alternatives have been discussed as well - moving either Braun or Santana to 1B, but who knows how realistic that is. Or maybe Santana sticks it out in CF for a year or two. There seems to be lots of options... but all of them have some warts.

[MrTPlush]

Really the two options are trading Davis(or I guess Braun if they could) or moving Braun to 1B. Davis may or may not have to be traded in the long run, but that is more down the road. If you trade Davis I think it is pretty much 100% certain Braun is going back to LF.

 

Every other option is just a band aid.

[JohnBriggs12]

Really the two options are trading Davis(or I guess Braun if they could) or moving Braun to 1B. Davis may or may not have to be traded in the long run, but that is more down the road. If you trade Davis I think it is pretty much 100% certain Braun is going back to LF.

 

Every other option is just a band aid.

 

If he qualified among leaders for HR per AB, Davis would be behind only Harper, and the two guys in Colorado, Gonzalez and Arenado and be ahead of the likes of Frazier and Rizzo. He'd also be behind two other non-qualifiers in Stanton and Schwarber, but that's pretty heady company nonetheless.

 

The more he hits, the more I think the Brewers will attempt to move Braun and open up RF for Santana.

[danzig6767]

With as good as Santana has looked, the OF depth in the minors, and Davis on this second half home run surge, it seems an ideal time for whoever the new GM ends up being to shop Davis hard for either a young corner infielder or pitching.

 

Davis certainly has his flaws like a noodle throwing arm and back to back years with a sub-.250 batting average, but his walk rate is up and the guy has legit power during a time in baseball where power is scarce for some teams.

 

I'm not going to spend time right now trying to search through all MLB rosters and various minor league systems to make up some pretend/hypothetical trades for Davis in the offseason which never end up happening, but there would have to be at least a few teams who would like to add power to their lineup come the offseason, along with it being a player on a cheap contract and thus every home run he keeps jacking makes Davis look better.

 

People can argue whether in the past the Brewers have kept some of their players to long vs trying to trade them, but in the case of Davis, we have a younger replacement on the roster right now in Santana who has nothing left to prove in the minors and needs to play everyday come next year, preferably at a corner outfield spot vs playing him out of position in CF.

[nate82]

The teams off of the top of my head that would be a fit for Davis would be the A's, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Indians and the Tigers.

 

The Rays and the Yankees would be a better fit for Davis. With the Rays you could get Jake Bauers a 19 year old 1b in AA! Granted his stats haven't been all that impressive but for a 19 year old in AA they are not all that bad. Plus scouts have rated his defense at 1B to be above average so if you like defense at 1B there you go. I would ask for Bauers and Snell though I don't think the Rays would be willing to give up Snell. A better package maybe something like Bauers and Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez looks to be more of a 3B than a SS but that is just my opinion. Not exactly like the deal for Cespedes but I actually like the talent if the Brewers are able to get someone like Snell but I think that it is unlikely the Rays trade Snell.

[danzig6767]

The teams off of the top of my head that would be a fit for Davis would be the A's, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Indians and the Tigers.

 

The Rays and the Yankees would be a better fit for Davis. With the Rays you could get Jake Bauers a 19 year old 1b in AA! Granted his stats haven't been all that impressive but for a 19 year old in AA they are not all that bad. Plus scouts have rated his defense at 1B to be above average so if you like defense at 1B there you go. I would ask for Bauers and Snell though I don't think the Rays would be willing to give up Snell. A better package maybe something like Bauers and Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez looks to be more of a 3B than a SS but that is just my opinion. Not exactly like the deal for Cespedes but I actually like the talent if the Brewers are able to get someone like Snell but I think that it is unlikely the Rays trade Snell.

Cespedes is a better overall player than Davis, especially on the defensive side of things. As a hitter though, he hasn't been vastly superior, except for his silly good run so far with the Mets. To hit 14 home runs in only 36 games while their team is in a division race has been insane, but in 2013 and 2014, his OPS numbers of .737 and .751 weren't anything special. My guess is that after this crazy run he's on, whether it's the Mets or another team, someone will end up really overpaying him.

 

Davis has a career .795 OPS over roughly 1000 at bats. He should be right around his physical prime years while being under team control the next three seasons. If he can keep his walk rate up to similar of this season and just raise his batting average in the .250 range, with his power he easily could be an .800 plus OPS guy the next few years and that doesn't require some big stretch of hoping for those numbers to happen. Hopefully another team feels similar and offers a quality pitching or corner outfield prospect, assuming our new GM is open to trading Davis.

[JohnBriggs12]

Phillips is scheduled to arrive in 2017, maybe late 2016. Arcia likely will be up sometime in 2016. Santana is here now. Those appear to be the cornerstone everyday players of the next 5-7 years.

 

Why not have some fun in 2016 with a lineup of mashers including Davis, Braun, Lind, Santana, and Lucroy? Look what a team of big time bashers is doing in Toronto? Not saying that group of Brewers is in Toronto's class but for pure entertainment value, they can keep things interesting and give some support to the young pitching staff. They can always deal Lind at the deadline and then move Braun to first then either keep Davis (possibly extend him) or deal him after the 2016 season

[reillymcshane]

Trading Davis all comes down to what you are offered. If there's something good on the table, you can't be afraid to take it. If not, you just play the hand you're dealt.

 

Davis, Santana and Braun in the OF next year would be terrible defensively, but I don't really care. If we don't find good trade value for a guy like Davis, just let the guys go out and hit, establish their value. We can sort out eventual positions depending on how guys like Phillips, Reed and Taylor develop - not to mention how Davis and Santana play next year - and what we do with guys like Lind.

 

2016 is likely a losing year, so it's the time to experiment. If a good trade comes along for Davis you can pull the trigger. But until that happens, just let him play. Don't force any trades at this time.

[Roderick]

Davis, Santana and Braun in the OF next year would be terrible defensively, but I don't really care.

 

Aren't the new pitchers like Davies and Jungmann groundball pitchers anyways? So less stress would be put on the OFs.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm not opposed to trading Davis but he's not arby eligible for another season and he's controlled for 4 more years. I would think 2016 offseason would be his peak trade value.

[reillymcshane]

Davis, Santana and Braun in the OF next year would be terrible defensively, but I don't really care.

 

Aren't the new pitchers like Davies and Jungmann groundball pitchers anyways? So less stress would be put on the OFs.

You are correct.

 

Davies, Peralta, Jungmann and Nelson are all groundball guys - each will probably be around 50%. I'm not sure about Garza. It's why really like the idea improving infield defense - a guy like Arcia will be gold for these pitchers.

[tmwiese55]

Trading Davis all comes down to what you are offered. If there's something good on the table, you can't be afraid to take it. If not, you just play the hand you're dealt.

 

Davis, Santana and Braun in the OF next year would be terrible defensively, but I don't really care. If we don't find good trade value for a guy like Davis, just let the guys go out and hit, establish their value. We can sort out eventual positions depending on how guys like Phillips, Reed and Taylor develop - not to mention how Davis and Santana play next year - and what we do with guys like Lind.

 

2016 is likely a losing year, so it's the time to experiment. If a good trade comes along for Davis you can pull the trigger. But until that happens, just let him play. Don't force any trades at this time.

 

Pretty much agree with this take. Lind is the one who needs to urgently be moved due to being a FA after next year. No rush on Davis due to the contract situation mentioned. However, he's finishing the year so strong right now it might be safest to trade him in the offseason too.

[danzig6767]

Trading Davis all comes down to what you are offered. If there's something good on the table, you can't be afraid to take it. If not, you just play the hand you're dealt.

 

Davis, Santana and Braun in the OF next year would be terrible defensively, but I don't really care. If we don't find good trade value for a guy like Davis, just let the guys go out and hit, establish their value. We can sort out eventual positions depending on how guys like Phillips, Reed and Taylor develop - not to mention how Davis and Santana play next year - and what we do with guys like Lind.

 

2016 is likely a losing year, so it's the time to experiment. If a good trade comes along for Davis you can pull the trigger. But until that happens, just let him play. Don't force any trades at this time.

It goes without saying that trading Davis should only happen if an offer is fair. That's the case for pretty much any trade. I by no means want to just trade Davis for any offer presented, even if the offer sucks.

 

My only point was that i'd certainly shop Davis in the offseason if i was GM given ideally Braun/Santana could then man the two corner OF spots, Davis should have value in the trade market since he is both cheap and has power, and we have glaring needs for a young corner infielder. So it would be nice if another team had a need for what Davis could offer them and at the same time was willing to part with a high quality corner infield prospect.

[Mr Southpaw]

Santana is younger, faster, a better defender and cheaper longer. Trade Davis for equal value, he has 21 HR as of today. You should be able to get some quality back. A Wil Smith type would be just fine. A corner infielder of quality would be better.

[JohnBriggs12]

Santana is younger, faster, a better defender and cheaper longer. Trade Davis for equal value, he has 21 HR as of today. You should be able to get some quality back. A Wil Smith type would be just fine. A corner infielder of quality would be better.

 

You don't trade a 30 HR guy in his prime for "a Wil Smith" type. Those guys don't grow on trees especially in today's game. The don't need a guy at 1B if they keep Lind another season (or at least another 4 months). Leave Santana in CF for 2016 until at least the time Lind is dealt at the deadline and Braun can be moved to 1B and Phillips brought up to play CF. Let Davis hit 30-35 HR next year and then see what his value is.

[pacopete4]

Santana is younger, faster, a better defender and cheaper longer. Trade Davis for equal value, he has 21 HR as of today. You should be able to get some quality back. A Wil Smith type would be just fine. A corner infielder of quality would be better.

 

Let Davis hit 30-35 HR next year and then see what his value is.

 

 

Could Davis hit 30-35 HR's? Maybe. But that would be his best season scenario. While he has become more patient, his average over the past two seasons has declined. His OPS is sitting around .800 which is probably right around where his best case scenario is too. Not saying that is not a good number but coupled with his poor arm and average range, now might be the best time to move such a player and get more pieces towards the future.

[Outlander]

I don't see 30 HR as his peak. Let him play another year full time and his value should be even higher. Sure, if somebody offers something great then take it but a Will Smith type should not do it.

[reillymcshane]

Davis is a 30-HR guy when he hits 30 HRs (or at least gets near it). Right now he's a 20-25 HR guy with the potential to be a 30-HR guy.

 

I can see where someone can see the guy as a 30-HR guy due the fact he's got 21 in 330 ABs this year. Multiply that production by 150% and you get 495 ABs and 31 HR. But extrapolating production doesn't make it real. Davis is a pretty streaky player, plus he's had some injuries. That's why we just let him play - this year and next. Let him prove he can stay healthy, let him develop more consistency, let him improve as a player. If at some point we are offered a deal worthy of the guy then you consider it.

 

If Khris pops 30 HR next year and hits .250-.260 it's a fine asset - whether you keep or trade him. Right now, however, that's not him.

[Roderick]

Santana is younger, faster, a better defender and cheaper longer. Trade Davis for equal value, he has 21 HR as of today. You should be able to get some quality back. A Wil Smith type would be just fine. A corner infielder of quality would be better.

 

You don't trade a 30 HR guy in his prime for "a Wil Smith" type.

 

I think we could have made Smith a #3/#4 type starting pitcher by now if we didn't keep needing him back in the pen. I know he wasn't great in the half season starting for the Royals but he was only 22.

 

So yes, I would trade Davis for a #3/#4 type starting pitcher (or high leverage reliever) that we had five years of control over. I know we have a batch of potential starting pitchers down in AA, but I don't think we can ink Jungmann and Davies into starting spots for next year (or the next five years), nonetheless assume Garza is anything with great confidence, so another guy to compete in 2016 would be good. That and the consideration that this lets Santana play a corner OF position, plus I think it is easier to flip a pitcher for other talent, I say go ahead.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see 30 HR as his peak. Let him play another year full time and his value should be even higher. Sure, if somebody offers something great then take it but a Will Smith type should not do it.

 

 

His HR per AB is one for every 17.9 AB for his career. That's better than Braun's one for every 18.5. This year it's one for every 15.7 which is better than all but two of Braun's seasons. Had he not missed 6 weeks or been in a soft platoon with Parra before and after that until the Parra trade, he'd likely be at 30 HR this season. Point is that despite a relatively low BA, he's an elite power bat but he could use a full healthy season in his prime to generate impressive totals that will up his value even more. I personally think he's capable of a 35 HR year with 600 AB but he's going to need some big bats around him in the order which is why I'm not all that keen on dealing Lind just yet. Davis is perfect in that 5-6 spot in the order. Think Encarnacion as a Red. They gave up on him a bit prematurely to get Rolen for a couple decent years in part because his defense was subpar and they had Votto at 1B. Now Encarnacion has hit 144 HR in his last 4 seasons.

[trwi7]

I think we could have made Smith a #3/#4 type starting pitcher by now if we didn't keep needing him back in the pen.

 

A two pitch pitcher with mediocre control isn't a starter.

[tmwiese55]

I think we could have made Smith a #3/#4 type starting pitcher by now if we didn't keep needing him back in the pen.

 

A two pitch pitcher with mediocre control isn't a starter.

 

But if allowed to continue starting and with development maybe he adds a change and then yes he is a starter, when he got put in the pen there was no need to develop a 3rd pitch. he was 22 and he felt they could've tried that path instead, that's all the poster was getting at.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think we could have made Smith a #3/#4 type starting pitcher by now if we didn't keep needing him back in the pen.

 

A two pitch pitcher with mediocre control isn't a starter.

 

But if allowed to continue starting and with development maybe he adds a change and then yes he is a starter, when he got put in the pen there was no need to develop a 3rd pitch. he was 22 and he felt they could've tried that path instead, that's all the poster was getting at.

 

They got Smith for one year of Aoki. While Aoki's a very nice piece, 4 years of Davis in his absolute prime seasons are work a heck of a lot more than a serviceable to better than average reliever with some potential to turn into a starter.

[Mr Southpaw]

At best Davis is Ben Ogilvie Lite (being about the fifth or sixth best batter in a very good batting order, striking out a lot and hitting lots of home runs). If you just like home runs, he is your guy. I will up my proposed trade to Wil Smith (I really like Smith) plus another piece to the puzzle.