Hours after the Texas Rangers released Ike Davis from his minor league contract, the first baseman agreed to ink a major league contract with the New York Yankees, according to Today’s Knuckleball’s Jon Heyman.
Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News confirmed the report.
Following four seasons with the New York Mets, Davis was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates a few months into the 2014 season. While he was afforded the opportunity to shine over the course of 397 plate appearances, he floundered to the tune of a .235 batting average, 10 home runs and 46 RBI.
The Oakland A’s acquired Davis in a trade with Pittsburgh the following November, but his struggles at the plate continued.
In 74 appearances, he batted just .229 with three homers and 20 RBI. The first baseman was also bothered by a left hip injury that sent him to the 60-day disabled list before he underwent season-ending surgery.
The Yankees have been dogged by injuries to first basemen Mark Teixeira, Greg Bird, Dustin Ackley and Chris Parmelee already this year, so they’ll hope Davis can at least stay healthy as he tries to recapture some of the 2012 form that saw him blast a career-high 32 home runs.
But even if Davis does turn back the clock, the Bronx Bombers can’t count on him to produce consistently at the plate. He is a career .239 hitter, and he’s tallied at least 100 strikeouts in three of the four seasons in which he played at least 100 games.
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