Yankees News: Ike Davis Signed To Major League Deal

New York Yankees News: The Yankees have signed first baseman Ike Davis to try and be a stop gate at the position ravaged by injury.

New York Yankees news has been dominated recently by injury updates, especially at first base. The Yankees have been hammered by injuries at first, as they have had four players go down at the position already this season; Gregory Bird in Spring Training, Dustin Ackley at the end of May, Mark Teixeira on June 4th and then Chris Parmelee on June 10th.

It has become a bit of an epidemic at first base for the Yankees, as they are running out of healthy bodies at the position. Those four players represented the top four in the organizational depth chart, so the Yankees’ depth is being tested.

They could have opted to call-up Nick Swisher, who played with the team from 2009-2012, but opted against that as he has shown very little at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Swisher has struggled really since he left the Yankees, as he did not produce for the Cleveland Indians or Atlanta Braves.

More from New York Yankees

• Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
• Caesars New York Promo Code Gives TWO Chances to Win Betting on Your Yankees!
• PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
• Caesars NY Promo: $1,250 Bonus to Celebrate the Return of Judge!
• Get $500 in Bonus Bets to Back Yankees or Mets With PointsBet New York Promo

As a result, the Yankees will be keeping him down at Triple-A for the time being. Instead, they went outside the organization to find help at first base, signing Ike Davis.

Davis was with the Texas Rangers, but had an opt-out clause in his contract had a major league opportunity presented itself. The Yankees have that opportunity, and the two sides have been in contact. Davis is expected to join the team in the coming days according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball and MLB Network.

Davis will fill an immediate need for the Yankees, as they currently have no one on the major league roster with much experience at first base. They had been using Rob Refsnyder there on an emergency basis, as they are essentially down to their fifth string first baseman.

Refsnyder has a lot to learn still about the position, as he was already transitioning from the outfield to second base. Expecting him to pick up first base in addition to learning second would have been a lot, so it was only a matter of time until the Yankees found a veteran to help take some pressure off of him.

Refsnyder, who bats right handed, is expected to be in a platoon with Davis, who is left-handed, according to Heyman.

Davis was a once promising prospect with the New York Mets. He looked like he would provide a decent average with solid power, as he smashed 32 home runs with 90 RBI in 2012. But injuries would ultimately derail Davis.

A collision with David Wright seemed to sap him of his ability to hit for average, while he battled an oblique injury in 2013 that limited his effectiveness. He made for an awkward platoon with Lucas Duda, whom the Mets would try to hide in left field at times. But, the Mets would choose Duda over Davis, making Duda their regular first baseman early in 2014 and trading Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Davis didn’t do much with the Pirates, and signed with the Oakland Athletics in 2015 trying to get his career back on track. He was rather ineffective there as well, and had to settle for a minor-league spot with the Rangers this season.

Next: 5 Greatest Catchers In New York Yankees' History

Davis was slashing .268/.350/.437 at Triple-A Round Rock this season before opting out and signing with the Yankees. If Davis was ever going to get his career back on track, this would be the time. He should enjoy hitting at Yankee Stadium with that short porch in right field, while also getting consistent playing time as the left-handed player in the platoon with Refsnyder.