If You Sign Him, They Will Come: Time for the A’s to Lock Up Khris Davis

Billy Beane promised A's fans they would be committed to holding on to talent. Khris Davis is the first real test.

Aug 22, 2018, 12:00 AM Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:33 am

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by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter

It has been a wild 2018 season for the Oakland A’s. Raise your hand if you guessed that the Athletics would be 76-50, tied for 1st in the AL West with the defending World Series champion Houston Astros on August 22nd.

There have been a lot of factors to the Oakland success this season, from Matt Chapman’s golden glove to the emergence of one of the best bullpens in the league. But there is one man in particular, who has been consistently been left out of the MVP conversation, who arguably deserves the most praise for the green and gold’s emergence this season.

Slugger Khris Davis is batting .263 with 38 home runs and 102 RBIs, well on his way to his third-straight 40-homer season. Davis has 17 home runs in the last 27 games, and is tied with J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox for the most long-balls in the MLB. He is also 2nd in the MLB, just four behind Martinez, for most RBIs.

We're wondering the same thing, Bob.
¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/QaQyiHByWW

— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) August 22, 2018

Davis is arbitration eligible for the 2019 season and can become an official free agent in 2020. The Oakland A’s would be foolish to even consider either.

Following the recent transition of ownership, longtime A’s General Manager Billy Beane promised fans that the organization is committed to keeping talent in Oakland long-term, something that they have neglected to do for well over a decade. While the ultimate goal for the organization is to open a new ballpark somewhere in the East Bay, it’s time for the A’s to put their money where their mouth is, proving to Oakland fans that they are true to their word.

Khris Davis: A true hero in Hero-Town. pic.twitter.com/og7eb3NleZ

— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) August 21, 2018

Davis’ elite talent is undeniable now. And he has already vocalized a desire to remain in Oakland.

“I envision myself winning a championship in Oakland,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of tradition here. It’s got a rich history of championships. I feel like I could bring a championship to Oakland one day.”

According to Athletics beat-writer Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s have been in talks about a multi-year deal with Davis’ agents for some time.

The A’s are a year ahead of schedule, in a legitimate race for a postseason bid, divisional title, and potentially deep playoff run. There is a very dedicated and passionate Oakland fanbase ready to burst, waiting for the organization to live up to their promise by spending the money necessary to keep talent like Davis. While the ballpark is important, the players are the key.

If you sign him, they will come.