Skip to content

Report: Rays interested in slugger Davidson as 2-way player

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Tampa Bay Rays want to fill two holes on their roster with one signing.

Tampa Bay is reportedly interested in signing free-agent corner infielder Matt Davidson and potentially making him a two-way player, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Davidson, who was non-tendered by the Chicago White Sox in November, is a natural third baseman and has split his time between third, first, and designated hitter since becoming a full-time player in 2017. He's an established power threat, slugging at least 20 home runs in each of the last two seasons.

The 27-year-old has made just three career appearances as a pitcher, all of them coming during blowout losses last year. He was surprisingly effective on the mound, though, as he didn't allow a run while tallying a pair of strikeouts and allowing just two baserunners.

During his third relief appearance on Aug. 6, Davidson displayed an impressive arsenal of pitches and struck out former MVP Giancarlo Stanton on a 71-mph curveball.

The Rays are known for their out-of-the-box thinking, as they conceived of the "opener" concept that took baseball by storm last year. Davidson wouldn't even be the organization's first two-way player, as top prospect Brendan McKay was drafted by the team as a first baseman/left-handed pitcher and has successfully played both positions in the minors.

Davidson slashed .228/.319/.419 with 20 homers, 23 doubles, and 62 RBIs over 496 plate appearances with the White Sox in 2018.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox