Red Sox: What outfielder Rajai Davis brings to the table
By Sean Penney
The Boston Red Sox acquired outfielder Rajai Davis from the Oakland A’s in an August waiver wire deal. Here’s what he brings to the table.
Dave Dombrowski has reunited with another old acquaintance by acquiring Rajai Davis from the Oakland A’s to bolster the outfield depth of the Boston Red Sox. Davis spent two seasons with the Detroit Tigers when Dombrowski served as general manager for the organization, so he’s familiar with the veteran outfielder’s skill set.
Red Sox fans who have limited exposure to seeing Davis in action may be wondering what he brings to the table. While he’s not the game-changing star that Dombrowski has developed a reputation for chasing, Davis does have the ability to make his presence felt on this team.
The timing of the trade can’t go overlooked, as it comes mere hours after we found out that Jackie Bradley, Jr. was placed on the disabled list with a thumb injury. X-rays were negative and an MRI revealed no ligament damage. A sprain may only sideline Bradley for a couple of weeks, but Davis can take over center field in the meantime and provide insurance in the event of a setback or other injuries.
Davis will be a free agent at the end of the season, so there are no long-term ramifications to this trade. As far as the rest of this season, there is plenty that he can offer.