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The A's designated infielder J.D. Davis for assignment last week and over the weekend, the A's traded Davis (together with cash consideratoins) to the Yankees in exchange for INF Jordan Groshans. The Yankees put RHP Nick Burdi on the 60-day IL to create a roster spot for Davis.

Davis had originally gone to arbitration with the Giants last off-season but the Giants released Davis when they signed former Oakland player Matt Chapman to a free agent contract. Thanks to a quirk in the rules, the Giants managed to get out from the majority of their contract with Davis thanks to the fact they went to arbitration (most contracts in the MLB are fully guaranteed, but not contracts that arise through arbitration). The A's signed Davis to a $2.5 million contract during Spring Training, which when combined with the $1.1 million payout he received from the Giants after being released, only got him to just over 50% of the contract he had agreed with the Giants through arbitration.

Davis played 39 games for Oakland this season, hitting .236/.304/.366 in 135 plate appearances, spending time at first base, third base and as the designated hitter. While Davis was roughly league-average in his offensive production, Oakland decided that they would be better off going in a different direction and announced that he had been designated for assignment during the week. He goes to the Yankees where he will figure to play a role in their post-season push, and may fill in for the injured Giancarlo Stanton, who was placed on the IL with a hamstring injury. Davis can also fill in for the injured Anthony Rizzo, who will miss up to six weeks with a broken forearm.

The Yankees gave up infielder Jordan Groshans to Oakland in exchange for Davis. Groshans was claimed off waivers by the Yankees after he had been released by the Marlins during the off-season. Groshans was removed from the Yankees' 40-man roster in early March and has not produced with the bat in the minors with the Yankees' affiliates, hitting a combined .232/.310/.281 in 50 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Groshans has played at all four infield positions. Groshans was the 12th overall pick by the Blue Jays back in 2018 and was once a highly regarded prospect, so it seems a reasonable lottery ticket for Oakland to take a chance on with Davis clearly not in their plans. The Athletics do have a need for infield reinforcements at both third base and at shortstop.