The Oakland Athletics have acquired outfielder Khris Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Bubby Derby and catcher Jacob Nottingham, the team announced. Sussan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported that the two parties had a deal involving Davis.
“In Jacob Nottingham, we are acquiring one of the premier catching prospects in baseball,” said Brewers general manager David Stearns. “Jacob has an advanced feel for hitting and has demonstrated consistent power throughout his minor-league career."
“In acquiring Bubba Derby, we continue to add to our prospect pitching depth,” said Stearns. “In his first professional season, Bubba had one of the best performances of any lower-level pitcher. We are excited to add him and Jacob to our organization.”
The Brewers were expected to trade Davis sometime before the trade deadline, but it has obviously come earlier than many thought. The Brewers are in rebuilding mode, which is why the team got two prospects back for the 28-year-old.
Davis, a seventh round pick by the Brewers in the 2009 MLB Draft, will head to Oakland after batting .247/.323/.505 in his third big league season. Across 121 games in 2015, Davis slugged 27 home runs and tallied 66 RBI. It is quite obvious that the power is there, but the consistency has yet to take full circle with the outfielder.
During 2013, 2014 and 2015, which is the full major league career for Davis, the graduate of California State University Fullerton has hit .250/.315/.494 with 257 hits, 151 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 44 walks, 63 doubles, four triples, 60 home runs and 162 RBI. The 5-foot-10, 195 pound slugger has struck out 122 times across 321 career games in the bigs.
Davis will join Coco Crisp, Billy Burns, Josh Reddick, Sam Fuld, Mark Canha and Jake Smolinski as possible outfield options in Oakland. At this point, Davis will be competing with Crisp for the left field position, while Bruns and Reddick are locked in at center field and right field.
The Athletics have designated Sean Nolin for assignment. He was a part of the Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays trade.
With the new general manager David Stearns and the Brewers in full rebuilding mode, which veteran will be next to get traded off of Milwaukee's roster?