I know a lot of Chicago Cubs fans were holding out hope that the team would re-sign Wade Davis, but that hope is gone now. Jeff Passan is reporting, via a source, that Wade Davis is now a Colorado Rockie.
Source: Wade Davis has agreed to a deal with the Colorado Rockies.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 29, 2017
The Cubs had signed Brandon Morrow in the hopes that he could be the 2018 closer, and they added Steve Cishek as a backup plan. Still, Davis just has that championship type of aura about him.
Jon Heyman is reporting that Davis’ deal includes a $1 million assignment bonus for the first time he is traded, and will receive full No Trade rights thereafter. He is also reporting the deal is a three-year pact with $52 million bones coming his way. His $17.33 million AAV is the highest EVER for a relief pitcher. Ever.
Buster Onley also reports that if Wade finishes 30-games in 2020 there is a vesting option that goes into place, increasing the deal to a $66 million total value. THIS IS BONKERS!
I think he’s going to get a bunch of calls from cousins he didn’t know he had…
Davis was 32 for 33 in save chances in 2017 for the Cubs and was spotless until September. There were reasons for concern, an uptick in home runs allowed, more walks than normal, and an escalated ERA. But he was still one of the most effective closers in baseball.
In any event, the writing was on the walls when Davis became a free agent. The Cubs do not sign closers to long-term, high AAV deals. It would have been a nice luxury to have a guy like this, but the Cubs are hoping Morrow become a guy like this. Only time and results will tell.
To think… there are some that are saying baseball is colluding to reduce salaries…
