Bonilla was released by the Mets after the 1999 season for his poor performances and other issues like clashing with manager Bobby Valentine and playing cards in the clubhouse while the team was playing on the field.
Advertisement
Chris Davis and the Orioles are together again.
Chris Davis got a $161 million deal for the Orioles over seven years. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman first reported the agreement. It won’t be the safest play in free agency, but the Orioles could do a lot worse, and the signing ensures they won’t have to fill a major power void. And Davis is exactly that.
Davis will be 36 when the contract expires and it stands to reason that his production will start to decline in the back half of the seven-year deal.
A popular figure in the city, Chris Davis – who hit 47 home runs with 117 RBIs last season – will be welcomed back into the fold with open arms. That leads all of baseball over that span. Edwin Encarnacion is second with 151, and then it’s Nelson Cruz with 135.
Another question that has to be asked is whether or not the Mets are willing to pay Cespedes, even for one season. While he’s primarily a first baseman, he may get more time in right field.
But reality is, the Tigers need to go all out at this stage, not only because they did commit to adding to their roster this season off season rather than subtracting, but because of the age of their core and high-priced players. Earl Weaver would be proud. It’ll be interesting to see if the O’s address the corner outfield spots and starting rotation after giving Davis a franchise-record contract. Spring training is only a month away, yet the Baltimore Orioles’ offseason remains a work in progress. Could they have endured another such loss and still return to the contender they were in 2012 and ’14, years they advanced to the postseason? The skipper quietly had appealed to the slugger to reduce his request to make sure the Orioles could continue to acquire talent around Davis, possibly to no avail.
Cespedes would have to play center field with the Mets, which is not ideal. Still, this is generally a downward trend. You’re not going to find a guy with his kind of athletic ability and power anywhere, so on both fronts it’s a great feeling to have him back.
Orioles owner Peter Angelos will do the paying to Davis.
The Orioles reportedly offered Davis seven-year, $154 million contract at the MLB Winter Meetings, but he turned that down in hopes of landing a $200 million deal, various reports suggested.
The Orioles have also re-signed Darren O’Day, given Matt Wieters a qualifying offer, and traded for Mark Trumbo this offseason.
So good morning, Baltimore.
Advertisement
Their new shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, acquired from Atlanta in November, might be the best all-around defensive player in baseball.
