Mets sign OF Rajai Davis to minor league contract with invitation to spring training

12/17/2018, 10:28 PM
May 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Rajai Davis (11) talks to Oakland Athletics third base coach Chip Hale (4) in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports / Stan Szeto
May 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Rajai Davis (11) talks to Oakland Athletics third base coach Chip Hale (4) in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports / Stan Szeto

The Mets signed outfielder Rajai Davis to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, the club announced on Monday. 

Davis hit .224 with an OPS of .690, 33 runs, six doubles, one triple, a home run and six RBIs across 101 games for the Indians last season. The 38-year-old stole 21 bases for Cleveland in 2018. Davis' speed and added outfield depth will serve as an advantage for the Mets, a club that is thin in both departments. 

The right-handed hitter owns a career .262/.311/.379 triple-slash line with 224 doubles, 43 triples, 61 home runs, 379 RBIs and 415 steals. He trails only Jose Reyes and Ichiro Suzuki among active players in career stolen bases.

Last year, Davis had a 29.3 ft/sec sprint speed, according to MLB.com's Andrew Simon. The MLB average for sprint speed is 27 ft/sec, per Statcast. This puts Davis in the top 6 percent of the league. The only Mets player to reach a sprint speed of 29 ft/sec was Amed Rosario.


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