Giants players irked by Davis' release: 'Shit part of the business'
Several San Francisco Giants players are frustrated with the way J.D. Davis was released and are calling Major League Baseball's arbitration process into question.
"He earned his money. He earned the raise," infielder Wilmer Flores told The San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea.
"This doesn't happen very often. It's weird when it happens, and it sucks when it happens. I'm glad he's back playing baseball. He's a good guy, good teammate, good player. But I think they should address it because it's not fair. He had a good season."
The Giants released Davis on Monday before he signed with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Davis' agent ripped San Francisco for how it handled the arbitration process and his client's "unfortunate" release.
Davis was expected to earn $6.9 million in 2024 after winning an arbitration hearing against his now former team. Instead, he will receive $1.1 million in termination pay from the Giants and a $2.5-million salary from the A's.
The collective bargaining agreement states contracts for arbitration-eligible players are only guaranteed if they settle with their teams. In Davis' case, he won a hearing and became expendable after the Giants signed third baseman Matt Chapman.
"Maybe this will create some really beneficial discussion for all of us as players to figure out how we can make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else because J.D. definitely doesn't deserve it," outfielder Mike Yastrzemski said.
"It's proven through a trial that you should be earning a certain amount, and then somehow you end up making 50% of that. There's math there that doesn't really add up."
Davis put together a 2.2 fWAR season in 2023, slashing .248/.325/.413 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs in 144 games. While his release has rubbed some of his former teammates the wrong way, they're happy to see him get a shot with another team.
"Obviously, it's a shit part of the business, but I'm excited for him to get that opportunity. I know he's going to ball out and catapult into his free agency next winter," right hander Logan Webb said.