Chris Davis

Chris Davis

38-Year-Old First Baseman1B
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Chris Davis in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Orioles in January of 2016.
Announces retirement
1BFree Agent  
Hip
August 12, 2021
Davis (hip) announced his retirement from baseball Thursday.
ANALYSIS
The 35-year-old calls it quits on a 13-year career spent with the Rangers and Orioles. He'll retire with 295 homers (including 53 in his All-Star season back in 2013) and 1,160 hits. While he was one of the league's best power hitters in the middle of the last decade, he's struggled significantly since the start of the 2018 season, hitting .169/.251/.299 over that span, so the decision comes as little surprise. Per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, he'll still be paid the $23 million remaining on his seven-year, $161 million deal next season despite his retirement, though a portion of that money will be deferred. Davis never saw game action in 2021 while dealing with back and hip injuries.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Chris Davis See More
Bernie on the Scene: Pitcher Rankings
March 28, 2022
Bernie Pleskoff offers up his ranking of MLB pitchers, in which his top five features two Mets in Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
Collette Calls: 2022 AL East Bold Predictions
December 30, 2021
Jason Collette begins his Bold Predictions series with a trip through the AL East. Can Gary Sanchez return to top 5 catcher status?
The Z Files: The Fallacy of Stabilization and an Early Look at Home Runs
April 10, 2021
Todd Zola offers some thoughts on early-season trends, including the home run surge led by Nick Castellanos and the Reds.
Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers
March 2, 2021
Jesse Siegel analyzes prospects who stocks are moving as we head into spring training, including the Cardinals' Dylan Carlson.
Bernie on the Scene: American League Injury Update
December 7, 2020
Bernie Pleskoff analyzes American Leaguers coming off injuries and explains why he's so high on Trey Mancini.
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The one-time slugger went 6-for-52 with a .337 OPS in 16 games and appeared on track for another high-priced slump of a season before landing on the injured list in mid-August with a kneecap injury. Davis staggeringly still has two years and $46 million remaining on the seven-year deal he signed back in 2016. Even discounting his brief appearance in 2020, he has a .564 OPS with 28 homers and 331 strikeouts in 233 games over the previous two seasons. The Orioles showed some promise during the shortened campaign before finishing with a 25-35 record, so Davis' playing time may continue to slide in 2021 with better and younger options at first base and designated hitter. There's little hope of a resurgence at this point, and it could be only a matter of time before Baltimore eats the remaining money on his deal to free up a roster spot.
It is mind blowing that Baltimore still has to pay Davis $23 million in each of the next three seasons as he painfully declines before our very eyes. He lost his everyday job last season with yet another anemic batting average and incredibly high strikeout rate. When a 100-plus loss team decides to bench a guy its paying $23 million to, it tells you just how bad things are. It was the fifth consecutive season in which Davis' homer total declined and his strikeout rate has not been below 30% since 2010. There is absolutely no redeeming fantasy value left here as the recipe for getting Davis out is as easy as making toast. He can still punish a mistake, but the mistakes are when a pitcher throws a cement mixer cutter or slider rather than a misplaced fastball. Even Albert Pujols is aging more gracefully than Davis. We fantasy players recognized this sunk costs awhile ago; the Orioles need to do the same.
The only thing worse than Davis’ 2018 season: the fact that the Orioles owe Davis $23 million for each of the next four years. His futility was historical as he slashed just .168/.243/.296. The club gave him several extended breaks to figure things out. At times, this seemed to work but it was never long before the strikeouts piled up. For the second straight season, Davis fanned at a 37% clip, five points worse than the level posted in the seasons that earned him the big contract. The woes led to impatience as Davis walked 7.9% of the time, after five years with a double-digit mark. His HR/FB was a career-low 14.5%, following five seasons of at least 23%. His BABIP was a career-worst .237. Nothing went right as his defense at first ranked among the league’s poorest. It remains to be seen if Baltimore will treat Davis as a sunk cost or give him a chance to snap what’s essentially a three-year malaise.
Davis was in a class of his own only a few short years ago, but he's not much more than "a guy" in fantasy nowadays given the new power landscape and Davis' own skill regression in recent seasons. He still has prodigious pop, but Davis' contact ability has slipped considerably, with his strikeout rate leaping from 31 percent to 37.2 percent over the past two years. His performance against lefties has declined dramatically -- Davis has gone from .265/.327/.450 against southpaws in 2015 to .216/.313/.398 to .208/.293/.326 last season (164 plate appearances). At his height, Davis was a three-category anchor, but he's been such a batting-average drain over the past couple seasons, to the point where those contributions have been largely offset. Davis has long been a negative in the field; considering that along with his lefty/righty splits, he's potentially in danger of falling into a platoon at some point in his age-32 season.
Davis hit 38 homers last year, and we should be happy with that, but that's so 2015. In a year where many players set career highs in homers and second baseman were going yard 30 times, Davis had a normal power year for him. That was not a good thing because outside of scoring 99 runs, he did not do anything else well at all. He drove in just 84 and his batting average returned to the sub-optimal range albeit not below the Mendoza Line like in 2014. At this stage of his career, Davis' skills are stable. He will hit for more power than most and will produce runs in bunches when he gets on one of his power hot streaks, but he is very unlikely to hit for average. Good luck predicting his batting average given there has been 90 points of variance in it over the past four seasons. The three true outcomes are consistent for him but everything else is quite fluid.
Davis has two elite seasons sandwiched around his miserable 2014 season that also saw him serve a brief suspension. He led MLB in home runs in both 2013 and 2015 and was also in the top-10 in slugging, OPS, RBI, and extra-base hits in each season. Davis also led MLB with 208 strikeouts in 2015, so there is no mystery why he hit under the Mendoza Line in 2014. When Davis makes contact, the ball usually goes a long way. Metrics show he makes medium or hard contact over 90 percent of the time, but a defensive infield shift curtails his average. Davis will be 30 years old in 2016, but he's back with Baltimore on a seven-year, $161 million deal, so nothing really changes for him. Davis will be wedged in the heart of the order and in the same home-run friendly environment.
Davis was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy baseball during the 2014 season, as he failed to get back on track after suffering an oblique injury in late April. To make matters worse, Davis failed a second test for amphetamines late in 2014 and missed the rest of his disappointing season. It was later revealed that despite a medical need for Adderall, Davis did not have an exemption for its use in 2013 or 2014. If the big seasons of Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, and Jhonny Peralta post-PED suspension are any indication, discounting Davis in 2015 due to the 2014 performance would be a mistake. It's also worth noting that he was approved for an exemption to take Adderall again in 2015. Davis can still hit 30-plus home runs in his sleep, offering a reasonable floor even if he's unable to return to his 2013 level again.
Davis gave validity to the age-27 theorists with a monster season that warranted him MVP consideration. He led the league in home runs (53) and RBI (138), despite slowing down in the second half of the season with a .245/.339/.515 line over his final 65 games. Davis also finished fifth in MLB with a 29.6% strikeout rate, but his .348 ISO (also tops in MLB) shows that his raw power could help him sustain his 2013 numbers. The power output alone has vaulted Davis into the fantasy elite among first basemen, and while he may not hit as high as .286 again, he could prove capable of providing 40 homers annually.
Davis found new life in his first full season in Baltimore while notching his first 30-homer season. The long balls came with a price - a strikeout every 3.1 at-bats. After having trouble getting the ball to leave the park in 2011, Davis had a 25.2 percent HR/FB rate. He also took a step back defensively and spent most of the season as the designated hitter until moving to the outfield for the first time in his career after Nick Markakis went down. Depending on their roster construction, Davis should remain the designated hitter. In a full season, Davis can hit 30 home runs with ease, but the strikeout slumps can occasionally cause him to get benched for small stretches.
Davis remains unable to cash in on his big minor-league success. He received another chance this year in Baltimore and remained unimpressive, posting a .708 OPS. He simply cannot afford to strike out so often - he fanned in 30.2 percent of at-bats with the Orioles last season. Davis chose offseason rehab over surgery after being diagnosed with a sports hernia, so keep an eye on his progress throughout the spring. Look for Baltimore to give him another chance in 2012, but he will be forever limited until he can figure out how to make contact.
Davis was replaced by Justin Smoak in late April after another poor start (.188/.264/.292 with 17 strikeouts in 48 at-bats), hit well at Triple-A Oklahoma City (again) after being sent down, earned a promotion after Smoak was included in the Cliff Lee trade, but failed to hit (again) when given the chance (.189/.267/.245 in 53 at-bats). No longer in Texas' plans following the late-season emergence of Mitch Moreland, Davis will need a change of scenery to get another extended look in the majors. His winter ball season was mixed (six homers in 22 games, but a .250/.341/.550 line with 25 strikeouts in 80 at-bats). If it's cheap power that you're after, be ready to invest in him should the at-bats come along.
Davis began the season in a 1-for-22 slump, struck out 114 times and hit just .202 in 258 at-bats before being sent down to Triple-A just prior to the All-Star break. He mashed again at Triple-A (.327/.423/.536) and was rewarded with a promotion and regular playing time upon his recall, where he hit .308/.338/.496 in 36 games. He's still going to strike out a bunch, but has a history of some success despite the whiffs and he'll get another crack as Texas' first baseman in 2010. The power is legitimate, though he'll need to improve his BB:K rate if he wants to be more than a low-average slugger.
Davis was a welcomed addition to the Texas lineup, hitting .285/.331/.549 in 295 at-bats after a midseason callup, banging out 17 homers and 42 extra-base hits in his time with the Rangers. He struck out too often, continuing his minor-league tendencies, but there's no limit to his power given his home park. He'll be third base eligible for at least one more season, though Texas has mentioned on numerous occasions this winter that Davis' future is at first base.
Davis managed a 35-game hitting streak for High-A Bakersfield before being promoted to Double-A Frisco, where he continued to hit well (.294/.371/.688 in 30 games). His strikeout totals remain worrisome, fanning 150 times in 495 at-bats and drawing just 35 walks, but his composite .297/.347/.598 line as a 21-year-old was a fine effort for his first full professional season after being selected in the 2006 draft. There's enormous power potential here.
Davis perfomed well after being selected in the fifth round last June, posting a solid .277/.343/.534 season in the short-season Northwest League. Fifteen homers in 253 at-bats show his power potential, though there's still plenty of work to do (23 walks, 65 strikeouts). Turning 21 in March means he's got plenty of time.
More Fantasy News
Gets season-ending hip surgery
1BBaltimore Orioles  
Hip
May 19, 2021
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that Davis (back) underwent arthroscopic left hip labrum surgery Wednesday in Dallas, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. Elias said Davis "projects to be out for the season" while he spends the next 4-to-5 months recovering from the procedure.
ANALYSIS
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Rehabbing away from team
1BBaltimore Orioles  
Back
April 25, 2021
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Davis (back) is conducting his rehab program in Texas at an outpatient facility, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Placed on 60-day injured list
1BBaltimore Orioles  
Back
March 26, 2021
Davis (back) was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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Could miss extended time
1BBaltimore Orioles  
Back
March 22, 2021
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde acknowledged the possibility Monday that Davis (back) could begin the season on the 60-day injured list, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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Getting back checked by doctors
1BBaltimore Orioles  
Back
March 9, 2021
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Davis is continuing to experience back soreness and remains without a timeline to return to action, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Committed to playing in 2021
1BBaltimore Orioles  
December 9, 2020
Davis (kneecap) said Wednesday that he isn't considering retirement during the offseason, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Davis reportedly considered retirement after the 2019 season, but he's fully committed to playing in 2021. The 34-year-old dealt with knee issues over much of the 2020 campaign and was forced to compete for playing time when he was healthy. After struggling over a limited sample last year, Davis could struggle to find consistent at-bats once again.
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