Oakland Athletics: Extending Khris Davis was the right move

The Oakland Athletics recently made the highly anticipated decision to sign star designated hitter Khris Davis to a two-year extension through the 2021 season.

The Oakland Athletics may not have a stellar reputation of keeping their star players around long-term, but the team might be looking to buck that trend. On Thursday, the A’s agreed to terms on a two-year extension with Khris Davis that would keep the talented slugger in the Bay Area through the 2021 season.

This is a move that had been rumored for months as both sides had shown evident interest in getting a deal done before long. And those rumors have finally come to fruition as the Athletics resident home run king is now locked into Oakland for a couple more seasons.

Davis originally joined the A’s in a 2016 trade after spending the first three years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Now in his fourth season with the team, Davis has recorded 40 or more home runs and 100+ RBI in each season with the A’s solidifying his place as one of the premier sluggers in the MLB.

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“Khrush,” as they call him, has seen a massive uptick in his power propensity since joining the Athletics as his 143 home runs over that timespan rank 19 more than any other player in the big leagues. Moreover, Davis has now reached a career total of over 200 home runs in just 2,784 at-bats, the quickest among all active players to reach that mark.

But apart from the intimidating presence he brings every time he steps into the batter’s box, Davis is able to resonate with fans in a way few others can. The 31-year-old is beloved in Oakland for his team leadership and selflessness that have become the modus operandi for a young A’s team.

In many ways, Davis represents everything right with the culture of the A’s locker room. He has an unrivaled work ethic, a strong connection with the fans, and doesn’t know the meaning of the word “ego.”

Davis is admired in Oakland and it would have sent a very distasteful message to the team and the fanbase if the A’s were to simply let him walk.

In a formal team statement, Davis had the following to say.

"“Oakland has been a special place for me since I arrived. I never hid the fact that I wanted to stay in Oakland, because that is how I feel, and I’m glad that I can continue to call the city of Oakland my baseball home. This team has a bright future, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”"

The deal is worth $33.5 million for an average salary of $16.75 million over the next two seasons, quite the bargain for a player of his caliber. Given that he’s already set to make $16.5 million this year, the extension seems more than fair for the Athletics.

Now with Davis locked up for another two seasons, the A’s could start to look at extensions down the line for some of their younger players including Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, and Marcus Semien.

By most regards, Davis is the heart and soul of this A’s team — both from an on-field and off-field standpoint. Now, their core will look to remain mostly intact for the next two seasons.