Oakland Athletics and Khris Davis needed each other

On Thursday, The Oakland Athletics agreed to a two-year extension with designated hitter Khris Davi It is one of many recent extensions given to players nearing free agency, but this is more unique compared to the others.

It was a slow Thursday news wise and a small slate of baseball games were being played. Then just around lunchtime, the Oakland Athletics made the headlines.

They had locked up their beloved designated hitter Khris Davis for an additional two years beyond this season. He will be paid $33.5 million dollars over the upcoming two years.

This deal isn’t anything glamorous, but this is significant for Davis and the organization as a whole.

Monetarily, this is the second largest contract dished out in A’s history. If you add his current one-year, 16.5 million dollar deal to his extension, it amounts to 50 million, which is 16 million less than Eric Chavez‘s three-year deal he signed in 2004.

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This contract has more emotion behind it too.

When Oakland traded for Khris Davis in 2016, it was an interesting move, to say the least. Not much was known about him.

He made the Brewers roster in 2013 but was sent down after he was unable to maintain a good average. He also wasn’t the greatest fielder.

He was recalled once Ryan Braun was suspended for his PED usage and he blossomed. His post all-star break stretch of games resulted in 11 home runs and a .596 slugging percentage.

In the following two years as a starter, his power numbers began to blossom. He had back-to-back seasons of 20 plus home runs and 60 plus RBI.

But Davis’ arrival in Oakland was the beginning of a two-year build to what would be a wild card appearance in 2018.

Davis was a welcome addition to an aging team and one desperate for a natural power hitter. He led the team in home runs (42), RBI (102), hits (137), runs (85) and total bases (291).

Those 42 home runs were five less than he had the previous two seasons, and the power wasn’t going to leave him.

He followed up those seasons with 43 and last season’s league leading 48.

So yes, a big part of the extension has been his contribution with the bat, but the other part is Oakland’s emotional connection to Davis.

Oakland’s social team released several graphics and videos and statements Thursday to go along with the announcement. The most touching was a video depicting GM Billy Beane, manager Bob Melvin and Davis himself:

Davis’ most memorable connection to the community came last August when there was a Make-A-Wish fundraiser at the park and several kids came to watch the game and meet the players.

Davis had young Anthony Slocumb sign his jersey to help boost his experience, and then in ‘Khrush Davis’ fashion cranked out a home run with his name etched on his left shoulder.

If there was ever a more perfect combination of a player’s athletic ability and their connection to their community, this was it.

Davis and Oakland NEED each other.

It is the relationship a player builds with an organization from draft day to their first contract extension. Though Davis was not drafted by Oakland, he has been treated as one of the family.

It is the complete package player of one who has tremendous power on the field and a powerful relationship off of it. The link that Davis has ‘Rooted in Oakland’ has become a positive contagion for A’s fans looking for a new generation of great Athletics teams.

Davis was a big part of the jolt to the postseason last year and clearly wants to be a part of it, not just this year, but for years to come.

“KD commits to Oakland”, and Oakland commits to him.

The Oakland Athletics and Khris Davis have been a perfect match. This was an extension both needed.