This is quite a way to start a Saturday in January.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Baltimore Orioles have re-signed Chris Davis on a seven-year deal worth $161 million guaranteed. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal adds the deal does not include an opt-out, but does include a full no-trade clause, which is a staple of Davis' agent Scott Boras.
The final numbers indicate the Orioles were willing to up the ante to bring back their main power source. And by up the ante, we mean it. Davis' contract is the largest commitment ever made by the Orioles, surpassing Adam Jones' six-year, $85.5 million deal that has three seasons remaining.
The complete breakdown of Davis' deal will see him paid $17 million annually through 2022. Davis will then receive annual payments of $3.5 million the following ten years and $1.4 million for five years after that, meaning he'll be on the Orioles payroll through 2037. Further proof here that Boras doesn't mind getting creative to get his free agents paid.
The Orioles originally offered Davis $154 million over seven years, but that offer was reportedly on and off the table over the last several weeks. The Orioles had applied some subtle public pressure on Davis earlier this week to make a decision soon, with manager Buck Showalter questioning how much money Davis really needed. On Friday, it was reported the Orioles had an offer out to Yoenis Cespedes, which no doubt added urgency to Davis' decision. The added money likely put the Orioles' deal over the top.
We could focus on the process all day, but while interesting, it's all water under the bridge now. The Orioles got their man back, and that will be very important for them as they attempt to keep up in an ultra competitive AL East.
Measuring Davis' impact is pretty simple. He has led the AL in home runs in two of the last three seasons, connecting for 126 homers over that time period. That type of instant offense is difficult to find and is a game-changer for Showalter, as he knows a game can be turned around quickly with one swing once you get to the middle of Baltimore's order. When you add in Adam Jones and Manny Machado, the Orioles are well-equipped to score quick.
Of course, that offensive punch takes on added importance after Baltimore lost Wei-Yin Chen in free agency, He was the stabilizing force in an at times shaky rotation, meaning the Orioles will likely have to score and score some more to stay ahead.
Given their current situation and hopes to contend, Davis' strengths are worth paying for. He strikes out frequently as well, but that goes with the territory with a power hitter. Overall, Davis has maintained a reasonable to great batting average, with the lone exception being when he hit .196 in 2014.
Needless to say, he's lucky that wasn't his contract year.
As things turned out, it worked out pretty well for all parties involved. At 29, the Orioles have to figure Davis' power will hold up for most, if not the entire contract. If so, seven years from now it may look like a bargain.
As for Davis, he's set for life with money and a supply of crab cakes from Jimmy's Famous Seafood in Baltimore. Perhaps more importantly, he can stay in a city he's comfortable in and continue playing in a ballpark he's comfortable in.
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