Matt

Davidson

Interestingly, he’s having to take a little bit of a cut after making $1.5 million last season. Davidson led the KBO with 46 homers and finished third with a 1.003 OPS in 2024. Last season, he was second with 36 homers and fourth with a .965 OPS. The 34-year-old, who had back-to-back 20 homers seasons for the White Sox in 2017-18, also spent a season in Japan since last seeing major league action with the A’s and D-backs in 2022.

That mutual option would be for $1.7 million. Davidson was sensational in his first year with the Dinos; hitting 306/.370/.633 in 131 games with 46 homers. The 33-year-old appears to have found his comfort zone, and he should be one of the most feared power hitters in the KBO again in 2025.

Davidson spent last year with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The 32-year-old slugger last appeared in the big leagues back in 2022 when he got into 13 games between the Diamondbacks and Athletics.

Davidson heads over to Japan after logging only 37 major league plate appearances between the Diamondbacks and Athletics in 2022. The 31-year-old corner infielder leaves behind a career .220/.290/.430 batting line in MLB. His power might play a little better in NPB -- Davidson did produce back-to-back 20-homer seasons with the White Sox in 2017-2018.

The 31-year-old slugger spent time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics organizations this year. Davidson slashed .310/.414/.644 with 32 homers in the hitter-friend Pacific Coast League but only played in 13 games in the majors. He will look to sign with another team this offseason, most likely on a minor league deal.

Davidson had been designated for assignment on Tuesday, but passed through waivers unclaimed and will continue to serve as extra infield depth for the A’s at Triple-A. He was just 4-for-24 (.167) in his limited time with the big league club.

Davidson went 4-for-24 (.167) during his two-week stay on Oakland’s major league roster.

Smith had a chance to run with the A’s third base job, but a .518 OPS in 47 games wasn’t cutting it. Matt Davidson figures to receive the bulk of the action at the hot corner in Oakland.

Davidson signed a minor league contract with the Athletics last month after appearing in five games earlier this season with the Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old slugger hit .260/.341/.571 with seven homers in 21 games at Triple-A Las Vegas to earn the call back to the majors.

Davidson hit the open market after refusing an outright minor league assignment earlier this month with the Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old veteran slugger will provide the Athletics with some extra first base depth moving forward. He’s tallied just one hit in 10 at-bats in five games at the big-league level this season.