Khris Davis is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but if he has his way, he'll remain in Oakland for years to come.
"I want to stay here at least three more years," Davis told the Associated Press and other reporters Sunday in Arizona. "I’d like to be here. I hope something gets done."
Davis, 31, agreed to a $16.5 million salary for this year to arbitration. He previously has expressed his desire to sign a long-term contract with the A's, and Oakland general manager David Forst has confirmed discussions are ongoing.
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"We've had more multiyear conversations with Khris," Forst said last month. "He knows that it's continuing."
Last season, Davis led all of baseball with 48 home runs and ranked second with 123 RBI. His 133 homers over the last three years also led the MLB. But Davis has taken notice of the slow free-agent markets the last two offseasons, with stars such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado still unsigned into spring training.
"It’s not a good thing being a free agent right now," Davis told reporters. "For my security, it’s going to impact a lot. That’s the way the business is. I’m already 31, so I don’t know if I’m too old."
Davis also knows the way the A's tend to operate, and if they fall out of contention this season, there's a chance he could be traded. That's just more motivation for him to lead the team back to the playoffs.
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“I don’t think they’ll trade me as long as we’re doing good," he told reporters. "So we better do good so I don’t get traded.”
Of course, Davis' value goes far beyond the numbers. His presence in the cleanup spot impacts the entire lineup. When he missed nine games last May because of injury, the A's went 3-6, scoring 15 total runs. That's not a coincidence.
Davis also has become a tremendous leader in the clubhouse, not to mention a fan favorite, and despite all of his accolades, he has never had an ego. Talk about a perfect fit for Oakland.
The A's might be wise to get a multiyear deal done with Davis as soon as possible.