The Orioles’ third baseman in exile is keeping prepared:
Chris Davis playing 3B again today in instructional league game vs. Red Sox in Sarasota. Played there yesterday vs. Rays in Port Charlotte
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 30, 2014
Davis would be eligible to play in a theoretical ninth Orioles playoff game and beyond. If they get that far, however, one wonders if they won’t have decided by then that, really, Kelly Johnson is a better bet.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Rockies and shortstop Trevor Story have come to terms on a two-year, $27.5 million deal, buying out his two remaining years of arbitration eligibility.
Story, 27, and the Rockies did not agree on a salary before the deadline earlier this month. Story filed for $11.5 million while the team countered at $10.75 million. The average annual value of this deal — $13.75 million — puts him a little bit ahead this year and likely a little bit behind next year.
This past season in Colorado, Story hit .294/.363/.554 with 35 home runs, 85 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases over 656 trips to the plate. He also continued to rank among the game’s best defensive shortstops. Per FanGraphs, Story’s 10.9 Wins Above Replacement over the last two seasons is fifth-best among shortstops (min. 1,000 PA) behind Alex Bregman, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, and Marcus Semien.
With third baseman Nolan Arenado likely on his way out via trade, one wonders if the same fate awaits Story at some point over the next two seasons.