3 trades to upgrade J.D. Davis' spot on the roster
J.D. Davis hasn’t been the same hitter this year that he was expected to be. Sure, he hits the ball hard. What good is that? It’s like me typing with all capital letters. The New York Mets need much more out of his roster spot. The trade deadline is the time to address it. Fortunately, there have been plenty of Mets rumors about the team searching for an answer.
Defining Davis’ role with the Mets this season isn’t exactly defined. He’s a sometimes corner infielder, mostly DH. He was meant to be their main right-handed bat for regular DH duties. Given this description, let’s limit the trade target replacements to only right-handed hitters with some flexibility on defense. The team will hope Daniel Vogelbach is already the answer to replacing Dominic Smith.
Who should it be that the Mets look to find as an answer to upgrading J.D. Davis?
1) NY Mets rumors: Ian Happ might be the best J.D. Davis replacement out there
Davis joined the Mets as a guy who could play third base and left field while also maybe being able to give them innings as a right fielder and first baseman. Versatility can be measured in a number of ways. There are players like Davis who have no natural position and can get shoved in anywhere. Then there are guys like Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs.
Happ is certainly no Gold Glove winner but he is far more flexible on defense than Davis ever was. Happ has gotten comfortable as the starting left fielder for the Cubs this year. However, in the past, the Cubs have utilized him all over the place. He has even played center field and wouldn’t be such a terrible second or third option at—well—second or third base.
The Mets, like most teams, do value players capable of playing multiple spots. This is what has made Jeff McNeil so valuable. It’s also probably a reason why they went out and added Eduardo Escobar over the winter. Even their outfielders can play all over with Mark Canha having some first base experience.
Happ and Davis might not appear to have much in common but offensively we could say the Mets could have expected from Davis what Happ has given the Cubs this year. Capable of hitting for more power than he has displayed this season, he’d be a huge roster upgrade for New York. He's also a switch-hitter so there's less of an excuse to ever sit him.
2) NY Mets rumors: Brandon Drury would be a more affordable J.D. Davis upgrade
Although recent Mets rumors have said acquiring Brandon Drury might be tougher given the interest from some other buyers, let’s not completely dismiss him as an option. He, like Happ, can play all over the field. Mets fans got to experience a taste last season. This year, as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, he’s well on his way to leading the team in home runs and RBI—a feat that while not so impressive due to his employer does still make him look good.
Drury has hit for a lot of power this season, already passing the 16 home runs he previously set as a benchmark for himself back in 2016. It can’t all be Great American Ballpark. A part of it must be that he’s actually a good player.
He has gotten comfortable as the starting third baseman for the Reds this year which would actually make him an intriguing option for the Mets. Considering Escobar’s struggles, they could have a little more flexibility as to what they can do with him.
Only a few years ago, nobody would have expected Drury and Davis to be mentioned in the same sentence. Drury’s career was in a stark decline while Davis looked like he was winning an everyday role with the Mets.
This game moves faster than it may appear. At the 2022 trade deadline, it’s Drury the Mets should look into as a possible upgrade over Davis.
3) NY Mets rumors: Wilmer Flores trade deadline reunion to replace J.D. Davis would break the internet
The San Francisco Giants haven’t faded from the postseason chase but they clearly need much more added to their own roster to stay in the chase. They profile as one of those clubs that might not do a thing at the trade deadline and hope things work out. Not doing anything at all would be a mistake. So, keeping our fingers crossed that they sell, let’s look at an even more amazing Mets reunion. This one is for Wilmer Flores.
Flores went into the All-Star Break batting .250/.333/.439 for the Giants with 13 home runs and 51 RBI. The RBI actually led the team, even over Joc Pederson. Flores has been one of their best hitters all year which says a lot about the state of their starting lineup.
I don’t need to tell you much about Flores but let’s quickly catch up on exactly what he has done in San Francisco since 2020.
Flores has been exactly what you might expect. While no longer a shortstop in anyone’s mind, Flores has played a lot of first base, second base, and third base for the Giants this year. He also sees himself regularly in the DH role.
As much as it may feel like a “homer pick” to view Flores as a desirable trade addition for the Mets to consider, he has been far more productive and healthier than Davis. He doesn’t strike out much at all, a running theme throughout his career. Forget hitting the ball hard occasionally. Wilmer—we can call him that because we know him so well already—will make contact and drive the ball a long way. Let him finish off the year with a new career high in home runs and RBI as a member of the Mets in 2022.